TILLY almost laughed when Kiho called her 'goddess of crabs.'

She remembered that it was the first "gift" that he gave her during their early flirting days. It had been a long time since she heard that "title" from him, and she was glad to hear that from him again.

"It seems like you're still busy," Aku Moonchester said. "Shall we go ahead? I don't want my beloved Nia to freeze in the cold."

"Both of you would make pretty ice sculptures though," Tilly said sarcastically. Before the nasty siblings could react, she turned to Winter and Julian. "Kids, please escort our guests back to our house. Your father and I will just deal with the North King and the ice puppets first."

Winter and Julian looked concerned by her instruction.

"Don't worry, children," Kiho assured them. "Miss Luna and Solenn Rosenberg will join you."

Their children turned to the direction of the house.

Both boys were surprised and relieved to see Luna and Solenn waiting by the door. And to be honest, her children had nothing to worry about. After all, they were surrounded by their allies.

Aku and Nia Moonchester should be the ones getting nervous.

But the royal twins remained calm. In fact, they even looked confident even though they were surrounded by their enemies. She didn't want to admit it but it was admirable.

"It's not like we're here to fight," Aku Moonchester complained in a playful voice. He used to talk to Kiho that way. It was annoying to hear that kind of tone from him after everything that he had done to their family. "And children, I am technically your uncle. I don't mind if you call me 'Uncle Aku.'"

Winter and Julian turned to each other as if they were talking using their eyes. Then, the two children faced the emperor and talked at the same time. "We respectfully decline, Your Majesty."

She smiled proudly at her kids.

The words they said were polite, but their tone was dry and very formal.

"That's a shame," Aku Moonchester said, unfazed by the two boys' rejection. "I would have treated you with car had you allowd me to be an uncle for you."

"Enough with your lies, Aku Moonchester. No one is buying it here," Kiho said coldly. "My children will escort you and Nia Moonchester inside."

Aku Moonchester just smiled "sweetly."

With Tilly's encouragement, Winter and Julian left them to escort Aku Moonchester to the house. She noticed that Nia Moonchester got left behind on purpose. When the emperor was out of ear-shot, only then did she greet her. "I'm glad that you didn't change your mind, Nia Moonchester."

"You know why I'm here," Nia Moonchester said, then she walked past her with a whisper. "I'll be waiting for my "reward," Supreme."

***

"MORE THAN half of the ice puppets have now melted," Kiho said while watching the ice puppets with his wife. "But Garnet Nystrom's ice remains hard."

"I already kind of expected this from him," Tilly, who stood beside him, said. "His hatred for my brother is too deep. Because of his anger, the bad memories of his life as a human also remain vivid. That's probably why he doesn't want to let of his wrath."

He playfully bumped his wife's shoulder. "The Rosenbergs really hold grudges."

"Hey, your blood also flows in his veins," she retorted playfully. "If Garnet Nystrom inherited that ugly side of me, then it looks like he inherited your sharp memory. He just can't forget the past, can he?"

He just nodded, silently admitting Tilly's claims. "Tilly?"

"Hmm?"

"Garnet Nystrom is vulnerable," he said carefully, then he turned to his wife. "If you want, you can melt him with your flame now. I don't think doing so will affect your binding vow with Nia Moonchester. After all, Garnet Nystrom is already dead."

She shook her head. "I want Garnet Nystrom to make a choice of whether to live or die this time. He wasn't given a chance to do so when my brother hunted them down. Plus, he wants to know the truth. Since he refuses to believe my brother's words, it will be better if show him the truth once we reach the Great Fire Tree."

"But we can't trust the Spirit Great Fire Tree," he reminded her carefully. "The memories that the Sun God showed us that the damned old tree took Nia Moonchester's side back then."

"Even if that's the case, the Spirit of the Great Fire Tree wouldn't be able to change the truth," Tilly said. "And this time, we are with Nia Moonchester. If she asks her "father" to show us the truth that we need, then the Great Fire Tree wouldn't be able to refuse. But in the instance that he does…" Her purple eyes glowed menacingly. "I will burn that damned old tree to ashes."

Kiho smiled proudly, then he gently pinched Tilly's cheek. "You're so cute, honey."

***

JULIAN, with Lady Solenn, ushered Nia Moonchester to her a guest room where she could rest.

On the other hand, Winter and Lady Luna brought Aku Moonchester to another guest room. Thankfully, the emperor didn't request to share a room with his twin sister. It looked like he was being considerate to them because they were "kids."

"May I implore you to bring tea in my room?" Nia Moonchester asked politely as she sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm not good with the cold."

Julian didn't mind because first, the royal princess was polite. Second, he didn't feel any hostility coming from her. And third, it was a harmless request–

"We don't have tea here, Princess Nia Moonchester," Lady Solenn lied with a straight face. "We only have hot chocolate. And if you want to have a cup of it, you should go to the kitchen yourself. Status don't matter in this house."

Ah, Lady Solenn could really be a handful sometimes.

But I like that about her.

"You're a new face," Nia Moonchester said. "Who are you?"

"I'm Solenn Rosenberg," Lady Solenn said proudly, then she linked her arms with his. "And I am Julian's future potential fiancée."

He almost choked on his saliva out of surprise.

Then, his cheeks burned from embarrassment.

I didn't hate it though.

"Potential fiancé, huh?" Nia Moonchester said with a bitter smile. "It's disgusting to see two people related to each other having that kind of relationship."

For the first time since Julian met Lady Solenn, he saw her get humiliated.

And for some reason, he suddenly felt more protective of her than normal.

"We don't want to hear that from you," Julian said with a smile, but his tone was mocking. "We all know that after this mission, Aku Moonchester will still force you to marry him. And one more thing…" He tilted his head at one side. "I heard Lady Luna has perfected the medicine that will fix your body. I bet the emperor can't wait to conceive an heir with you, Princess Nia Moonchester."

Nia Moonchester's face was suddenly distorted with anger.

He expected the royal princess to stand up and attack them. But much to his shock, Nia Moonchester suddenly plopped on the bed unconscious.

"Julian, you're so amazing," Lady Solenn praised him while clapping her hands. "You killed the princess with just words."

He just smiled at the young princess because he knew that they both knew it wasn't true.

Most of all, he was worried when he suddenly felt another presence in the room.

Then, a black smoke came out of Nia Moonchester's mouth. Much to his shock and amazement, the black smoke eventually took the shape of a woman. And finally, the smoke has turned into the person that he didn't wish to see anymore.

"Julian!" Lucina Morganna said gleefully, then she got down on one knee and hugged him tight. "I've missed you, son!"

He let out a frustrated sigh. "I am not your son, Lady Morganna."

To be honest, he could still sympathize with Lucina Morganna a bit.

But this time, he was certain with himself that no matter what she said or did, he wouldn't waver. He would stay with his true family. The thought of protecting Lucina Morganna again at the expense of his family had stopped crossing his mind a long time ago.

"My mother already warned you before, Lady Morganna," he continued, then he gently pushed her away. "If you continue acting this way, my mother would burn you for real."

Lucina Morganna looked shocked and hurt by his words. "But you will never allow the Supreme to hurt me, will you?" she asked, then she tapped her chest a little too hard. "I am your mother Julian!"

"Lady Tilly Prescott-Nystrom is my one and only mother, Lady Morganna," he said firmly. "Always has been, and always will be."

Lucina Morganna didn't look happy with his declaration. In fact, she looked very angry when she grabbed his shoulders. "You're being brainwashed, Julian," she said desperately. "Come with me! Let's run away from here!"

He was about to put her in place when somebody else had beaten him to it.

"You're not going anywhere with my Julian," Lady Solenn said, then she touched Lucina Morganna's shoulder.

The former spirit guardian screamed in pain while the shoulder that Lady Solenn touched was literally smoking. Ah, the young princess probably tried to burn Lucina Morganna. But since she was also a Fire Mage, she somehow protected herself.

But fortunately, Lucina Morganna already lost her grip around his shoulders.

"Hey, I only want to worry about one future mother-in-law," Lady Solenn said with a "sweet" smile. "Aunt Tilly is already a tough opponent so please get out of my sight, hmm?"

Lucina Morganna glared at Lady Solenn. "And who are you to order me around?!"

"Don't shout at Lady Solenn," Julian said. "She's a special person to me."

***

"THIS WILL be your room, Aku Moonchester," Winter told him. Thankfully, only his nephew ushered him inside the guest room. The witch called Luna was guarding outside. "We don't have tea here. Only hot chocolate."

Aku Moonchester laughed softly at how casual Winter addressed him.

But honestly? He didn't mind. After all, despite their complex relationship, he really wanted to be nice to Winter and Julian. They were Kiho's children, and he still saw Kiho as his brother even until now.

"I haven't had hot chocolate for a long while now," Aku Moonchester said, then he sat on the edge of the bed. "Oh, the mattress is quite uncomfortable. But I think I can get used to this."

"Don't get used to it," his nephew said. "Anyway, I'll go ahead. If you're hungry or thirsty, just go to the kitchen yourself. Status don't matter in this house."

"I understand," he said. "Thank you for bringing me to my room."

Winter just raised a brow at him, then he excused himself.

He got Lady Nystrom's sass.

When he was finally alone in his room, he laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

Of course, he wouldn't leave the Royal Palace and travel all way to the North just for nothing. After sending off Nia later, he had a mission that he needed to fulfill.

That little girl called Solenn Rosenberg is a new face.

He also felt the presence of the Keepers as soon as he stepped in the house a while ago. It had been a long time since he last saw one. After all, they disappeared from the map as soon as the Supreme died in the past.

But all of a sudden, they appeared from out of nowhere.

That can only mean that all this time, they have been hiding somewhere, just like what I've known for a long time now.

But the question was where.

"I searched all over the land to look for Lady Nystrom and the Fire Mages the past few years. If they weren't on any part of the continent…" Aku whispered to himself, then he smiled when he remembered his hunch. He pointed a finger at the ceiling while imagining a clear sky above him. "Would it be possible for them to hide up there?"

He needed to confirm if his hunch was correct as soon as possible.

***

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