CHAPTER 187: HIS REQUEST

Lumina sat in front of her mirror while Stella gently brushed her long hair.

"My lady," Stella murmured, her voice laced with adoration, "your ornament glows so beautifully under the light."

Lumina smiled faintly at the mirror, the reflection of the golden pin flickering like fire. "Does it?" she whispered.

Without warning, Stella leaned forward and embraced her from behind. Lumina froze, feeling how weak her girl had become. Her pulse fluttered under fragile skin, and Lumina could almost sense the pain she tried to hide.

"Stella," Lumina called out gently, reaching back to touch her hand.

"My lady," Stella whispered, her voice quivering, "thank you for everything. You have always been kind to me. I am proud to serve you."

Lumina turned halfway, her expression turning cold. "Don’t talk like that. I told you we are sisters, not ladies and servants." Her voice broke a little. "I will find the right antidote, I promise. You will be fine. Nothing will happen to you." she assured her.

Before Stella could reply, the door burst open. A maid stumbled in, breathless, her eyes wide with panic.

"Where are your manners?" Stella snapped, stepping forward.

"My lady!" the maid gasped. "There’s trouble.... the Queen... the Queen is dying!"

The comb fell from Stella’s hand. Her gaze narrowed. "So?" Lumina replied coldly. "She’s escaped death too many times. It’s about time it caught her."

Stella turned to her, shocked. "My lady..." both of them called out at once and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Lord Ashen has been summoned to the palace... that is the trouble there." the maid explained.

Lumina exhaled slowly. "Of course. She always finds a way to drag him into her games. He was with me the entire night. They will find nothing against him." Only then did the maid lower her head in relief.

"Is breakfast ready?" Stella asked quietly.

"Yes, my lady."

"Go... Bring it here."

A few minutes later the meal was laid before Lumina, yet she couldn’t lift a spoon. The feeling of the empty chair beside her hollowed her chest. It was always Ashen who coaxed her to eat.

"Pack his breakfast," Lumina said, rising slowly. "Send it to his office, he would be going there from the palace.."

Lumina let out as she stretched her hands for Stella to hold, "Can you take me to Lord Drex?" Stella bobbed her head fully.

Then Lumina stood from her seat, as they found their way to the outer chambers.

But their steps altered when the doors swung open with full force, and all the maids immediately fell to their knees.

"Welcome, Princess Aurelia!"

The tall woman stormed into the chamber, her robes of silver and violet glimmering and flying around as she found her way toward Lumina.

"What did you do to my mother this time?" she demanded, stopping just in front of Lumina.

Lumina’s jaw tensed. "Welcome, Princess," she replied evenly.

"I don’t need your courtesy!" Aurelia snapped, moving closer. "What did you do to my mother?"

Lumina lifted her gaze to meet hers. "I don’t know what you mean, Princess."

"Don’t lie to me!" Aurelia’s voice shook with anger. "She’s been under constant attack ever since you arrived in this realm! What have you brought with you?"

"Princess," Lumina interrupted, her tone rising for the first time, "before pointing fingers at me, remember your title. You are also going to be wedded to another realm soon. How would you feel being accused as easily as you accuse me?"

Aurelia faltered, her lips parting in disbelief.

"Are you already whispering that to Father?" she asked after a moment, her steps quickening as she drew closer.

Lumina’s lips curved. "Shouldn’t I? After all, your brother brought me here against my will."

"So, you regret being with Ashen?"

"I didn’t say that," Lumina replied, her voice "But I won’t deny I was forced here causing several uproars in my life."

Aurelia laughed, bitter and loud. "You are insane."

"You should tell yourself that," Lumina countered smoothly. "You still haven’t learned from your past mistakes."

Aurelia’s breath hitched. The memory of the last time she had lost control of her power and what it had cost her flashed across her mind. Her jaw quivered.

"Instead of storming into my chamber," Lumina went on, "perhaps you should be by your mother’s side, tending to her instead of yelling at me."

Aurelia’s hands curled at her sides, her anger rising and falling in waves. Unable to find another word, she turned toward the door.

But Lumina’s voice halted her again. "Welcome back, Princess," she said calmly. "But remember that if you cross me again, I won’t hesitate to send you back to the dungeon."

Aurelia paused at the threshold, turning just enough to glare. "I will deal with you soon," she hissed, before leaving with a slam of the doors.

The maids, who had been silent as stone, broke into quiet applause once Aurelia was gone.

"Well done, my lady," one murmured with admiration.

Lumina only smiled faintly, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeves. "You may all return to your duties."

The laughter and whispers had barely faded when the air in the room shifted. Lumina stiffened, her smile fading.

A shadow stretched across the floor behind her. "My lord!" the maids gasped in unison, kneeling.

Lumina turned toward the presence she had felt wondering when he would walk inside. There Ashen stood in the doorway, with a blank expression.

"Ashen," she breathed, her voice softening. "I thought you were in the palace."

"I was," he answered, his voice low, almost hollow. "Not anymore."

Her face brightened slightly as she tried to bridge the silence. "How is your mother now?"

No reply came but his gaze remained locked on her, unwavering. "Ashen... why... are you quiet?" Lumina fi ay asked.

Finally, he spoke. "When the two years of our agreement are over, we will part ways." He let out. "So finish your plans quickly, Lumina. The sooner you are done, the sooner I stop getting used to you being here."

The words hit harder than any blade could. Lumina’s throat tightened, her lips parting in disbelief.

"Ashen..." she whispered, but before she could take a step forward, he turned and walked out.

The sound of his boots faded down the corridor, leaving behind a silence so deep it pressed against the walls.

The maids exchanged uneasy glances. Stella reached out, placing a trembling hand on Lumina’s arm.