The King's Beloved

[Music Recommendation: "Dearly Beloved" by Yōko Shimomura (Orchestra version by Hikari) - available in Youtube] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

"F-Flora? Guardian Flora?" Rania asked herself upon seeing the familiar woman with pinkish white hair and beautiful golden eyes standing beside Ducis. She had seen her a couple of times from the gates she travelled with Elliot.

Ducis and Lunaflora approached Rania and Elliot.

"Rania!" Lunaflora gleefully greeted Rania, and hugged her tightly. "I missed you! Waaaaahhh… I'm so sorry for leaving you without saying anything! You must have been so worried. I'm really sorry!"

"This… demeanor and speech," Rania thought, "could it be?" Then, she escaped from her embrace and took a good look at her face. "Is that you… Luna?"

Despite the massive change in her appearance, and a slight change in her voice which was mature yet still sweet, Rania recognized her dear fairy friend.

"Yes! It's me! I—well, it's a really long story but it's me! Luna! Actually, Lunaflora, that's my full name."

Hearing that, Rania started crying again and went back to embrace her dear friend.

"I'm so glad you're back and that you're alright," she sobbed. "Next time you leave without saying goodbye, I'm going to forget about you."

"He-he-he-he… I'm really sorry. I promise not to do it again."

"Glad to have you both back," Elliot smiled towards Lunaflora and Ducis. "Took you a bit long though."

As if guilty from something, Ducis' and Lunaflora's face blushed pink.

"Cough… Ahm, there's just," Ducis averted his eyes as he explained, "well, we haven't seen each other in a while so we… talked, yes, that's right. There was a lot to discuss so it took longer than I anticipated."

"You're hiding something," Elliot caught quickly. For indeed, nothing could escape his eyes. Chuckling, he continued, "Whatever, it doesn't matter. As long as you're back."

"T-that's right."

It was only then that Ducis noticed the twins before them.

"The two of you…" he turned his gaze towards the twins. He then pondered for a moment, knitting his brows in the process.

"Greetings, towards the Guardian of Fate, and the Guardian of Grace," Clavis bowed his head towards Ducis and Lunaflora.

Illuminaire followed him and greeted them as well.

"I am Clavis, the First Judge and Chosen Interpreter, and this is my sister Illuminaire, the Oracle."

Ducis looked around him and saw that all the pieces had gathered. He also noticed that Elliot's hair had returned to its original color, to which he smiled upon seeing.

"I see… In that case, the time has finally arrived."

Rania and Elliot's eyes widened. They had mostly heard him ever say that the time had not come yet… but this time, it finally arrived? If that was true then… will they finally receive all the answers to their questions? Their hearts thumped in great anticipation.

"Elliot," Ducis called him, "it is time. There is something that you need to know."

"Are you telling me the whole truth this time?"

"… Yes. All of it. The good and the bad, so I need you to strengthen your heart and resolve."

"Uhm," Elliot nodded, and his expression turned serious. "I'm ready. Tell me everything."

And so, Ducis stopped the time for everyone in the Floating Kingdom except for those involved—himself, Lunaflora, Rania, Elliot, Clavis, Illuminaire, the current King Calum who approached them while they were talking, and lastly… Selena.

"I need you all to pay careful attention to what I'm about to show you," Ducis started. "These are all the truths I've gathered ever since 'that' day."

Everyone turned to him to listen. Ducis' body glowed and golden dust started to gather around him. An intricate magic circle drew itself from beneath his feet and suddenly, the whole surroundings became pitch black.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" a soothing laugh of a child echoed in their surroundings.

Then, the pitch black surroundings were replaced by an enchanting garden. It was morning, and the sun shined bright from the sky. In the middle of the garden were three little children, around 3 to 4 years of age—one had golden hair, one with light blue hair, and the last one had pure white hair. They were all smiling adorably while their little hands held small swords used for practice.

"Yeah! I won!" the child with white hair exclaimed and jumped in joy.

"As expected of the Crown Prince," the child with light blue hair said cooly, while patting the dust from his knees. "It would be a shame if someone like me manages to defeat you in swordsmanship. That would mean you're slacking off in your training."

"—Which I don't!"

"Right. In that case, why don't you try defeating your cousin?"

Noticing they were looking at him, the child with golden hair who stood as their referee, tilted his head.

"Hm? Me? But I'm older by a year. I will have more experience and training so you'll be at a disadvantage."

The white haired child grinned with excitement.

"He-he… We won't know until we try."

"Hah! Cheeky now, are we?"

"Not really. I just wanted to try."

The golden haired boy smirked. "Alright. Let's see then."

And so, they began their duel. As they were fighting, Elliot's head throbbed again.

"These children before you," Ducis said, "was none other than the three of you," he pointed at Elliot, Clavis, and King Calum. "Elliot… this little child with beautiful white hair is you."

"I see…" Elliot stared at the said child. "In that case, what they said in the Coliseum was true?"

Ducis nodded. "You are the Crown Prince, the one and only son of the late King and Queen Regis. Calum, who is now the current king, is your cousin. And Clavis, who is now the First Judge, is your childhood friend, along with his twin sister, Illuminaire."

  Hearing that, Elliot turned to Calum and Clavis. He stared at them for a moment, trying to regain his memory, and they in turn, looked back at him.

"I won! I won!" the little Elliot exclaimed again. "Did you see that? I won against him!"

"Ugh," the little Clavis raised one of his eyebrows in disgust. "I think he let you win on purpose though."

The little Calum chuckled. "What are you saying? Of course, I didn't."

"Oh come on," Clavis grunted. "You love your cousin too much, he's practically your brother."

"Huh? You let me win on purpose?" little Elliot asked, annoyed. "In that case, let's fight again! You can't hold back this time. Can't you see I'm really trying to learn?"

"Ha-ha-ha! Are you all playing or training yourselves?" a beautiful woman suddenly appeared before them. She had long and silky honey blonde hair, adorned by a white crown on her head. Her smile was simply the sweetest.

Elliot's eyes widened upon seeing the woman. Ducis didn't need to explain who she was to him. Tears formed in the corner of his eyes as he stared longingly at her.

"M-Mother?"

"Ha-ha-ha! It seems they have forgotten how to take a break," said another man that came with her. This time, he, too, had pure white hair, and a handsomely gentle visage.

"F-Father?"

"Yes," Ducis confirmed. "They are your mother and father. King Eli Verus Regis, and Queen Alice Regis."