Moving Forward

AFTER changing into a decent white button style dress with more frills and lace that she'd ever worn in her entire life, Selene nervously sits in the chair while in the presence of a group of people who looks at her with a varied expression on their faces. Although most of them, especially Prince Nicolai's men, look at her in fascination, like she is some kind of a newly discovered microscopic organism that would bring hope to their world.

Kaden is sitting on her left while Zeno took the empty seat from her right, having no intention of leaving her side despite his brother's apparent protest. In front of her are High Priestess Lucia, Prince Nicolai, and his subordinates, including Augustus, Vladimir, and Zeno's older brother Isaac. Though Khalil went back to his room and Priestess Mauricia volunteered to escort him. When she learned the gist of events since she passed out, High Priestess Lucia asked her to privately discuss the plan on how to smuggle her out of the country. Of course, before the Imperial Prince of Ethion agrees to cooperate, he has one condition. And it is to know everything about her. He purposely asked how Selene ended up in their world, how Kaden became her guardian, the mission given to her, and her plans. Selene decided to come clean and tell them everything that they need to know. Since she's going to ask for Prince Nicolai's help, it's only fair to enlighten him about the situation. It is also her chance to tell Kaden everything.

At first, it was quite difficult to tell her story because it feels too surreal. She's almost afraid of what their reaction would be. However, when Kaden lightly squeezes her frozen hand, she felt encouraged by the small gesture. From then on, Selene's story flows out of her mouth naturally. Selene chose to start her story from when she got into a car accident, to the woman saving her from the brink of death and Selene waking up in Kaden's house. She also told them that the woman who saved her claims to be the Gods' appointed messenger.

"In exchange for helping me, I am given to task to save this world. I only have until the blood-moon rises to do it. If not, this world will cease to exist. And it is the last act of divine intervention given by the Gods."

"Until the blood-moon rises," High Priestess murmurs. Her eyebrow scrunched together while pondering the hidden message, but the frustrated look on her face tells that she has no idea what the messenger meant.

"I've been looking at some historical records of the same occurrence, but I've come up with none. That's why until I have my answers, I will be looking into the location of Holy Trees, Eemosolia across the Kingdoms." Selene continues while looking at the High Priestess.

Selene instinctively looks at the palm of her hand. She's trying to come up with a solution to the puzzles laid out in front of her. If Selene's magic did heal the land of Lyriboña, maybe she can also do it to others. She's not sure of its success rate, but it's better than not doing anything. Besides, she has to figure out how to save this world on her own, anyway.

"If the land is dying because of the dwindling magic, maybe by restoring the Albion's lifeline, which is the Holy Tree, will be enough to save this world until the fated day. I still need more answers to my questions, but as of now, that's what I'm planning to do."

Everyone was quiet while digesting everything that she has said, and she decided to give them time. However, Selene's heart squeezes tight when she felt Kaden's cold hand left hers. She's afraid to look at him, at what expression is playing across his face right now. Selene clenched her palm in frustration. She can't believe she's becoming too affected by what Kaden is thinking. When did she become such a weakling?

"And how did my dear cousin gets saddled with this?" Prince Nicolai asks coldly, breaking the silence with a blank expression on his face as he looks at her.

Selene stiffened, dreading to hear Kaden's answers. He's not going to tell her that she forced him into this, right? Selene's chest painfully throbs as she waits for Kaden's reply. Kaden doesn't like annoying things, and at this instant, everything is out in the open. It is clear that she's nothing but trouble. No one would want to get involved with someone troublesome. If he continues to associate with her, the peaceful life he struggled built will be naught. His life might even be put into danger because of her.

"That's because I'm her guardian, and I decided to go through with it until the end. No matter what it is, I will support her with her plans." Kaden replied in a determined voice.

When Selene heard his reply, it feels like a heavy burden was lifted off her chest and was replaced with a balloon of happiness. She felt his hand familiar cold hand wrapped around hers once again before he continues speaking.

"A few years ago, I met a strange woman, and she told me about Selene's arrival." Kaden stopped for a moment, trying to recall something before quoting the words of the bizarre woman she met.

"In ten years, when the sky turns pitch black, and a pillar of light shines down from the sky, a girl blessed by the gods will arrive in this place. I want to appoint you as her guardian. That is what the woman said, and that is how I met Selene."

Prince Nicolai clasps his hands together and places his elbows on his legs as if thinking. It looks like he isn't done interrogating her. And she doesn't like the way he looks at her. She noticed it since earlier, he's angry with her about something, and now he looks at her accusingly like she'd done something terrible. Well, she did kick him the last time they met, but is he still angry about that? There's no way he will hold a grudge over it, right?

"Then why am I special?" Prince Nicolai murmurs as if embarrassed by his question. Selene couldn't quite hear his question that she ends up looking at him looking confused.

Prince Nicolai exhales a shaky breath as he looks at her, flushed with mixed embarrassment and anger.

"You said I'm special and that you're going to save me if I hold your hand. Was that all just talk?"

When Prince Nicolai dropped a bomb question just like that, that is so out of place, Selene is not surprised when his subordinates gape in surprise. It seems it's out of character for the Prince to behave that way because everyone looks at him with their eyes wide and mouth slightly open that a fly can dash inside it. Although for Selene, he looks adorable when he is embarrassed.

Selene clears the sudden lump that forms in her throat. Is this time that she should use her trump card to lure him in to do her bidding? Well, as of now, she looks like an adorable and cute kid that he might probably give in. Selene's stops short and shakes her head, suddenly regretting her train of thoughts. Selene scoffs inwardly. She just has to be honest. No matter how cringe-worthy reality sounds like. However, it is even more nerve-wracking than when she delivers her speech to her audience back on earth.

Selene mustered all courage to open her mouth and deliver her lines well. "Yes, I told you you're special. That is because we're bounded by fate."

For the third time since that day, the place has become deathly quiet that even the usual chatterbox Zeno didn't utter a single word. Selene's gaze remains glued to the person who suddenly looks like a cold and pale statue.

"When I came here, the messenger said that I would meet the people that will stand by my side and help me with my mission. And that I will recognize them once I see them. That's what happened when I first saw you."

Selene let go of Kaden's hand, stands up from the couch, and slowly walks towards Prince Nicolai. When she's only a short distance away from him, Selene starts unfastening her dress's front buttons to reveal the mark on her chest. However, Prince Nicolai shot up from his seat with his face on flames and cold blue eyes in full panic mode. He instantly used his body as a shield to cover her from others and stops her from unbuttoning the rest.

"What in God's name are you doing? Are you crazy?" Prince Nicolai harshly yells while trying to put back her dress on.

Selene bit back the urge to laugh and purposely ignores the sound of surprise and disapproval from the back. They're surprisingly innocent for adults. It's not like she plans to strip in front of them. She smiles at Prince Nicolai and lightly slaps his hand away. "I'm going to show you my proof that some twisted kind of fate bounds us."

As if struck by lightning, Prince Nicolai looks at him in disbelief while she took that chance to continue what she's doing. When Selene is finally done unbuttoning enough buttons to show the growing silver branches on her chest that closely resembles that of an incomplete tree, Prince Nicolai took a step back in surprise when he finally sees the mark. Just one look at his face confirms her guess that he also recognized it.

"Do you recognize this mark? I'm betting you have the same one in your body. Let me see it."

Please, tell me you have one. Selene silently prayed because this is still embarrassing! However, this is only the surprise attack that she can come up with in an instant. From what Selene saw with Cessair, she can only conclude that the same thing happened to him though he didn't see any indication of it from him.

Prince Nicolai suddenly rubs his head like he is in pain without taking off his eyes on her. From her left, she can hear Augustus spew that she is a shameless woman while the others snicker covertly. Selene didn't hear Prince Nicolai's reply to her request, but instead, he took off his coat and almost tenderly put it on her. After putting it on her, Prince Nicolai turns his back on her, but Selene grabs his arms to stop him.

"Why don't you show it to me?" Selene asked while barely able to hide the panic in her voice. She still hasn't convinced him enough.

Prince Nicolai takes her hand off her arm, but instead of leaving her, he grabs her hand and holds it tightly before turning to High Priestess Lucia. "I already have my men in the port waiting for my signal. We can leave as soon as we can. However, to lessen the limited time that we have, you should open a trod that will take us straight to the capital."

"I was planning to do that while in the disguise of attending the celebration." High Priestess Lucia immediately replied. "We need to act as soon as we can before the palace caught wind of this."

Are they going to leave immediately? She still has to take Cessair. What about Kaden's family and the villagers? Selene looks at Kaden, quietly listening to the conversation with his hands tightly clenched at his sides.

"Wait a minute! What about Khalil and the villagers? I can't just leave without making sure that everyone is alright."

"I will take responsibility for them. Until everything gets settled, they will stay here in the temple so I can protect them. This is the least thing I can do in exchange for everything you've done." High Priestess Lucia replied with a smile on her lips.

"Won't you get into trouble for this? What about the others that are living here? Will that be fine with them?"

"Because of your magic, the land had been revived. The people won't live in cold and starvation for a long time. Even without being the child blessed by the gods, everyone in this temple will surely agree with my decision. We will be forever in your debt, Selene."

"That is why you don't have to worry about it anymore." Kaden suddenly pipes in, walking towards her and pulling her away from Prince Nicolai grasps. Kaden gently pushes her behind him before speaking to his cousin.

"While we are on the topic, there is still one thing that we needed to do in the capital. We will be taking someone with us. His name is Cessair. And just like you, he is special. He is also someone that Selene needs."

For some strange reason that Selene couldn't quite figure out, Kaden's relationship with Prince Nicolai seems to be sinking further down the thorny path as they quietly stare at each other with their nose flaring in irritation. Their body looks tense as they continue their staring contest.

In the end, Prince Nicolai smirks as if further provoking his dear cousin before giving her a look that made all her hair stand on end. "Then, I guess I have to do my role well. It would be terrible if I lose to just anyone."

What the hell is going on? Are they competing about something?