Golden Azarese jolted awake as if dragged from the grave, gasping, heaving, clawing for air that tasted too smooth to be real. Questions crashed through her mind—'Where am I? What happened? Where is Bad Azarese?'—before her frantic eyes finally registered the room around her.
She knows where she is.
At the Diamond Palace. In one of its countless chambers.
Then she looked down.
The breath she had just regained left her all over again. Those vine-like markings writhed across her skin—alive, subtle—curling up her arms and legs like a curse remembering its host. Horror snapped through her. She lurched off the bed, bare feet slapping the pristine floor as she sprinted to the mirror.
One glance was enough to rip a scream out of her throat.
"KYAAAAHH!!!"
Horns crowned her head like polished obsidian, with deep red color on its back. Her eyes stared back at her—black, bottomless, devouring every trace of humanity. No whites. No softness. Just darkness.
She stumbled backward and crashed to the floor, trembling, as the mirror showed a creature she wasn't ready to believe was herself.
"W-Who---!? Me!?"
Golden Azarese touched herself, pinched herself, and hissed when she felt pain.
It's real.
The monster in the mirror was really her.
But---But why? Why does she look like this? This is not her. That's not her! She's golden! Her hair, golden! Her skin, glistening! But the reflection in the mirror says otherwise. She used to be like the sun, now...she resembles the moon. From golden to silver grey hair. Her skin glisten no more. She had become...a monster?
"Bad Azarese, look at us! It's because you were evil!" She cried. Then stops when she remembered---
"The second life!"
Yes. This was their second life. That means...
She pushed herself up and ran to the door. She tiptoed to reach its knob and twisted it open. As soon as it was open, she slipped from the gap and sprinted relentlessly with excitement and longing registered on her face.
A second life. A new life. That means her mother...her mother is alive. Everybody is alive!
Everyone is alive!
"Mother! Mommy! I'm coming!"
She wipes the tears blurring her sight. Her tears hit the ground like sparks. The wind roared in her ears, or maybe it was her own sobs breaking loose after years of being locked behind rage and ruin. She wasn't running to a palace—she was running toward everything she had lost, everything she had mourned, everything she had buried with her own hands.
The gates of the Heart Palace came into view, shimmering like a miracle she didn't dare touch. The guards were notified about her arrival. Shocked and conflicted.
"You..?" They almost withdrew their swords had they not recognize her sooner.
Who else bore resemblance to a Veil, but her? The strange Princess their King Liorei defends so much about, the still-nameless Princess.
"LET ME IN!" Golden Azarese cried out while clinging on the bars, "LET ME IN!" Her legs nearly gave out, but she pushed harder, as if the world might end again before she reached them. As if her family—warm, breathing, whole—might vanish the moment she blinked.
The guards were hesitating, but one of them said, "Open it. If King Liorei hears we refused to open the gates for her..."
And so, they did.
"T-Thank you!"
The guards were left with hanging mouths and watched her pass by.
Golden Azarese smiled at the sight of the Heart Palace looking so vibrant and full of life. She must be right. They are alive. And they are waiting for her inside.
"MOTHER!"
The servants squealed in surprise upon her sudden arrival inside the Palace. She knew her way around, that's why she knew where to go, where they are.
And in that very same place, they gathered.
It was the tenthyear since the event occurred that changed everything, as for King Liorei's claims. That said, the Princess(es) are ten years of age. And every year, a month before their birthday, King Liorei demands an emergency meeting to try to open their eyes and minds.
He only have one purpose and goal: to make them realize that the blonde child they were doting on so much was a fake and the real third lady of Heart was the grey one.
Empress Siofra massaged her temple. She's not the only one who's been hearing the same ridiculous statements from the King. The first time was a shock, the second was a comedy. King Liorei was so persistent that it's becoming a pain already. They are exhausted.
"Gerson Fucking Liorei, you are not making any sense. Do you not get tired at all? Why would a lifeless doll be our daughter? Where is your proof? You have nothing but your words, no concrete evidence at all!"
King Liorei balled his fists and glared at the King, "I am speaking for the truth, and nothing but the truth!"
Prince Izaac clicked his tongue. "Then give us evidence. Prove it! And why would we believe you? You used to be an enemy."
That...caught King Liorei off guard.
Huh.
This is how they twist the turns every time. By bringing out the past and using them to silence him, because he have no known methods to refute them.
"And even his daughter won't believe him." Grand Duke Volt Xirquit spoke lazily.
Speaking of the said daughter, Princess Lorreign had goosebumps and anxiously waved her hands.
"I-It's not that I don't believe him! I just...I also want to see the truth myself! But everyone!" She stood and faced them, "My Dad is not one to make things up! What would he gain from this? It's not like he would switch the Princesses or what to disrupt our peace! There must be a foul play here!"
King LIFE stomped his foot and marched forward. Empress Siofra held his hand to calm his temper down.
"Why won't he? If only he was not useful, I would've killed him back when we were still on Earth. I am tired of hearing his nonsense! This will be the last time he will utter such blasphemy against my daughter!"
"You are making a mistake---"
Golden Azarese pushed the doors of the throne room open and waited for the light coming from inside and her sight to adjust. The creaking sound it made made the people in the throne room turn their heads to it---only to hear themselves gasping and in a state of shock when they laid their eyes on the other princess.
Golden Azarese swept her eyes around, recognizing familiar faces, but only one face made her tears stream warmly down her face.
"M... Mother...?"
Empress Siofra furrowed her brows at the other Princess. King Liorei fought the urge to run to the Princess. His instincts told him that this moment will change everything. Because, since she was born, the Princess hadn't opened her eyes. She hadn't spoke, but only smiles as her reaction. He took care of her solely as King LIFE heavily discriminated against the Princess and as his 'punishment' to King Liorei for confusing them. King LIFE limited King Liorei's power and authority---that he can only wield such terms POLITICALLY. Such as when handling political affairs of the empire King Liorei manages as a proxy and nothing more.
And so, King Liorei couldn't use his title to hire servants for the Princess. Therefore, he's grown attached to her since he was basically the one who's been raising her since she was a baby until she got to this age.
The Princess was bedridden all her life. The King is wise, but he was not wise enough to determine the phenomena surrounding the Princess all those years. It was like she was Sleeping Beauty. Never awake, only asleep. And her way of responding is through smiling, nothing more.
But now...
Now, she's awake.
The Princess is right in front of them, alive and awake.
"Mother! My mother!"
Golden Azarese found herself running to the Empress. She sees nobody but her mother, and her heart feel like it will burst any given moment by now. All those other important figures didn't amount to how much her mother worth to her. Because... Because before...
The Empress died...after giving birth.
That's when everything fell apart.
But not this time! Her mother is alive! Meaning, Bad Azarese is wrong! This life---IS WORTH LIVING!
"Mother---"
She was so close. So near.
Not until King LIFE pulled Excalibur out of its space and pointed it towards the Princess, a child.
"VAN!" King Liorei couldn't believe it. How could he point a sword to his daughter? Yes, fine, he doesn't believe that the Princess is his daughter yet--but to point a sword to a child?
"Who are you calling 'mother', you little abomination?"
Golden Azarese stops. The coldness from her feet crawled up to coat her body. She started trembling. Her wide eyes locked on the frame of the King, her father. Her father who... Her father that...
She couldn't move. She hadn't thought of it. Her desire to see her mother in the flesh overlapped the truth that her father, the King, would be standing by her side.
The King who... The King... Her father...
"Mommy?"
A child peeked from behind the doors. Her golden hair dangled, her curls bouncing. Their attention got swept away from the grey Princess to the golden one behind the doors---who smiled sweetly and warmly at them.
"My Holy!"
A smile instantly bloomed on their faces, especially on Empress Siofra's, and walked down her throne with open arms as if to cue her daughter to run to her.
Golden Azarese, still frightened and frozen, mustered enough courage to look away from the King in front of her to look past her shoulders. Just then, the golden Princess ran past her and jumped into the Empress's arms.
The darkness of her eyes reflected the scene, and seemed to replay it over and over again.
"Mommy, am I interrupting? Sorry! But I have good news! The flower we planted is blooming today!"
Golden Azarese completely turned to face them. Confusion was expressed all over her face. So much that the spectators watching her couldn't describe the look on her face.
"Hmm, that child would be a good actress someday. Pfft!" Grand Duke Paris whispered in a joke to his seat mates, and they chuckled alongside him.
They have dealt with a couple of 'good actors' already, but never a 'child actor' yet. Golden Azarese looks like one to them, and they knew the brewing drama will be a formidable one.
Dang. It's been so long since the Armageddon War was won. There have been no actions yet since other than clearing up the remaining and surviving Veils. But would you look at that now. A new soap opera to take part in, with two Princesses claiming the same identity.
Who's the real one? Who's the imposter?
Damn, this is so exciting!
'Exciting'?
Would they still have the same guts once the real one surfaces and take all their lives? Pfft. I doubt that. The most exciting part is yet to happen. And once the real deal is here, they would be helpless before the tyrant who cleared all lineages up with her own hands.
Golden Azarese cracked into laughter when she realized it.
"Oh, you, Bad Azarese! You silly! You fooled me!" She laughed---and everyone stared at her strangely.
Princess Azarese and Empress Siofra let go from their hug to look at her. The Princess was surprised to find the bedridden grey Princess in front of her---but what did she just say?
Golden Azarese joined them and hugged them both.
"You scared me! I told you, this time was different, right? Do you believe me now? We will be---"
King LIFE picked her up by the collar and threw her far from his daughter and wife.
"HAVE YOU GONE MAD!?"
It's no surprise anymore---but it still did surprise them, when King Liorei laid his fist against King LIFE for what he's done. Before the chaos go worse, Empress Siofra called them out. Princess Azarese began crying, confused and frightened for what was happening.
"HAVE YOU, GERSON FUCKING LIOREI!?" King LIFE wiped his mouth. It was bleeding. He spat his blood to King Liorei. He was about to attack the King again but Princess Lorreign pushed him back, stopping him.
"You didn't need to hurt her! She's just a child!"
Princess Azarese covered her ears. Her brothers came to protect her, soothing and comforting her.
"I won't be FOOLED. She will hurt them! You know what, get the fuck out."
King Liorei huffed, smirking with disbelief. "You are making a grave mistake."
"The only grave I see here is your grave. I said, out! Get the fuck out, Gerson Fucking Liorei! This will be the last time I will listen to your bullshit! That abomination is NOT my daughter and will NEVER be!"
Golden Azarese could only stare at her family with tears.
Her family...
There must be... Something is wrong. Why? This second life... She thought it's nice? Why is this...happening? What is happening?
And who is that? That, the girl who look so much like her?
Princess Azarese smirked her way while wrapping her arms around Prince Izaac. Golden Azarese shrinked with dread.
"How fucking ironic, Van," King Liorei said while shaking his head with disappointment, "Instead of questioning her appearance, why not question your roots? May I remind you, you look quite the same...in your Veil form."
Those words pushed the brightest red button of the King.
"WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY?"
King Liorei brushed his palm against Princess Lorreign's back, assuring her that he's calm.
"Mark my words---all of you. You will regret not believing me. What kind of parents are you to not recognize your own daughter?" King Liorei eyed them from head to toe, before rolling his eyes on them to walk to the Princess.
He knelt before her and gently cupped her face, wiping her tears with his thumb.
"Princess, are you okay?"
Golden Azarese pulled her breath and panned her gaze to his face. He saw her eyes go round and found his reflection in her abyss-like eyes. He forced a smile, feeling bad for how her life played out. An imposter stole her family. An imposter stole her identity. Now, he's the only one who knows the truth. And even after years of investigating, he have nothing to serve to prove her legitimacy.
He had done DNA tests, but the results were null. He's done it countless times but he couldn't get definite results. And so, that method was crossed out on his list of ways on how to prove that the grey Princess was the legitimate Princess of Heart
But that's not what was running in her mind at all. King Liorei worried when she started sobbing uncontrollably while looking up at him, her eyes tell stories he's not aware of. She clung onto his arm, her tiny, thin frame trembling before him. He thinks she was frightened and hurt about how her father rejected her and the truth, but that was not it.
"D... Daddy Liorei..."
King Liorei was taken aback.
Golden Azarese pushed herself onto him, ugly crying. She was wrapping her arms so tightly around him and so strongly, clawing onto his back as if hugging him was not enough and she wanted to embrace him more. Her cries echoed in the throne room, and they were not insensitive to not feel the emotions in it. That type of cry was familiar, especially to Empress Siofra and King LIFE. Because that was the same way they cried when Prince Astaroth revealed himself after faking his own death before. And that's exactly what the grey Princess was doing, the exact same sound she was making.
"Daddy Liorei! Don't leave me again! I'm sorry! Please, don't leave me again! Don't leave me again!"
King Liorei couldn't understand, but his heart twitched for a reason he couldn't describe. He embraced the Princess just as tightly with a smile. He carried her.
"Yes. I won't leave you. Never."
Golden Azarese believed him. Without looking back, King Liorei brought her away from that room. Princess Lorreign was torn between following them or staying---and made up her mind and followed her father.
King LIFE sent them away with his stares. Is it just him or does he feel... No. It's nothing.
But why does it feel like something was stolen from him? Why does it feel like King Liorei took something so precious from him?
Princess Azarese found him wavering, so she called him to cry onto him, saying how scared she was.
"It's nothing. That grey Princess is insane." He told her with a kiss on her cheeks after.
Empress Siofra and King LIFE looked at each other.
~
Rumors raged through the streets, carried by frantic mouths before it was printed across newspapers before dawn. What began as a whisper became a wildfire, and overnight the Warlock Empire twisted into a chaos too tangled to control. For years, the situation had been manageable. King Liorei has been trying to tell the people the truth, but people believe what they can see, not they cannot. That's why the issue wasn't that loud before, because their monarchs show them that such rumors were lies.
However, now...
The people, confused and terrified, reached for names to separate the two Princesses now living under one roof—calling the golden girl Sun, and the long-believed and grey Princess, Moon. People exaggerated the situation: that Moon is the real Princess and will defend and take her throne. People who say so were King Liorei's supporters.
They argue, "Of all the people they should brainwash, why only King Liorei? It doesn't make sense! And if it were me, I wouldn't go as far as challenge the Empress and the King! They are all powerful figures, so why haven't they found the truth yet?"
"Right? Then, it's the other way around! Sun must be the imposter who brainwashed the Imperial Family and Earthlings! Moon is the real one!"
Now divided, the Imperial Family refuses to make a word yet. King Liorei always do this, right when their birthday is right around the corner. Because of him, Moon is starting to gain supporters little by little throughout the years. His consistency is what led the people to believe him. They call it 'One Man Against All' challenge. I mean, what would he gain from insisting that Moon was the legitimate Princess of Heart? Recognition? Honor?
The King needs none of it. Those things come his way. They chase him instead. There's no reason for him to risk his life over nothing. Because, had he become their enemy again, he would've killed them single-handedly, effortlessly.
"Ugh, Dad. Why are you always looking for trouble?" Princess Lorreign whined and rolled on the other side of the bed where Moon rest.
"What if they sentence you to death for being so annoying? I don't want to be fatherless again!"
King Liorei listened to her whines with deep and heavy sighs.
"If they do, they will have to use you to make me submit." King Liorei reached for his daughter's hand and kissed it. "I know you are just as confused, but my love, I am telling the truth. I won't force you to believe me. I understand if you think I'm crazy---"
"I believe you, Dad."
Princess Lorreign scoot nearer and touched his face.
"I believe you. I do. I'm sorry for keeping my silence all this time. This time, I will fight alongside you."
His heart felt the warmth of his daughter's sincerity. He stood to kiss her forehead, thanking her.
"But I will be alright. I don't want to drag you into this mess. And I don't want your relationship with them get cold."
"Don't worry, I don't care!"
King Liorei sighed and kissed her forehead again. His daughter is such a cheeky darling. And stubborn. And very precious.
Moon moaned in her sleep. A tear cascaded down her tear, and she whimpered, "Mother..."
"Princess..."
King Liorei caressed her face. Princess Lorreign felt bad for Moon. "Dad, if it were to be the truth, then why do you think this is happening? Who's behind this?"
"I don't know, Princess. I don't know." The King sighed, "Years of investigating, but I haven't narrowed down the possible bastard behind this. There was one in mind. That one bastard who brought the imposter in before. But I haven't seen it since."
"If it's able to be this clean, then it must've known a lot about us. To be able to bypass Aunt Sio's ability to recognize bloodlines..."
King Liorei stared at her seriously.
"You should always be careful, Princess. They have been brainwashed. They are vying for the crown. Maybe. Our enemy want the imposter installed on the throne. If something were to happen to you, I won't hesitate to kill them all."
Princess Lorreign chuckled and smacked his arm playfully. "Hmmph, Daddy. Nothing will happen to me. I'm very strong! I'm your baby, okay? I'm strong!"
She showed her muscles to him and the King laughed.
Right. He shouldn't worry about his Princess. In fact, he should be worrying about the bastards who will come after her. They shouldn't take Lorreign Dragunovv so lightly. His Princess can take out a dragon by herself. In fact, she did take down thousands of ferocious Veils before during the Armageddon War.
Still, the foreboding feeling won't leave the King's chest. He must do something. What else can he do? Doing things alone is such tedious task. With his power limited and his tasks piled up, King LIFE is making sure to keep him occupied. He didn't want to make things worse by resigning as a King. Their hands are still full with changing the ways of their new world.
Sometimes, they wish, they never left Earth at all.
Good Matriarch, have mercy on your beloved descendant. Bless her with security and protection, and bless her with something that will prove her legitimacy. A child must not suffer this way. No child ever deserve to feel replaced nor have their identity stolen.
How could the Deities allow such crime to happen?