Lumi felt that familiar numbness come over her as she watched the retreating figure of the Winter Palace.

She slowly, with each second, locked away every precious moment she had been able to experience there. Every person she had met, their words, how they made her feel- the guards, Macy, Jodi- and him.

She couldn't carry their memories with her into this new land.

She had learned that from experience when she had entered winter from summer. She had learned that the past did nothing but weigh you down.

Slowly, she locked it away.

It would stay there. Never to be reopened.

Lumi inhaled deeply. She turned to face her new husband. Or husband by name. She knew the documentation had been a formality to pass her over. Maybe she would marry him, maybe she wouldn't. It was up to him and his people to decide. After all, he had come here and now was unexpectedly returning to his land with a new Queen.

Whether they held an official ceremony upon their arrival or not made no difference to Lumi. She decided to let this be known to him.

"I know you signed those papers in front of the Winter King, but the actual process does not-,"

"You are my Queen."

He turned to face her. They were complete strangers and this realization hit Lumi. They had only shared a few passing words, several dances, and small laughter between them at the Winter ball. Nothing that Lumi thought would make a lasting impression such as the pursuit of marriage.

A wry smile twisted his lips.

"You do not want to be?"

Lumi only shrugged.

He sighed. "I wouldn't put it past you. You already surprised me by not running away screaming when you heard where you were going."

"Galexious?"

Josiah nodded, "Either you are ignorant, or it just hasn't hit you yet. I'm hoping for the latter. I can't have an ignorant Queen."

Lumi leaned back within her seat and admitted, "I've haven't heard a lot about your Kingdom. And the little I've heard has all been..." she trailed off, looking out the window to cover her thoughts.

Josiah gave a humorless laugh, "I know. I'll save the details. I don't think telling you now will help me keep you."

It was Lumi's turn to laugh, "where else would I go?"

"Back to the Winter King?"

There was a break of silence as they each evaluated the other.

"It's not a secret. People gossip."

"I see..." Lumi suddenly felt uncomfortable. His dark eyes seemed to be piercing into her with his knowing look.

"But no...I wouldn't go back there. It's not my place anymore."

Josiah turned his head curiously at her, his smile mystifying Lumi. His grin only broadened. She hadn't been able to see the look on the Winter King's face as they drove away. Maybe if she had- she wouldn't have been saying those words.

"Your past doesn't concern me," he waved away the thought, reminding Lumi of her own she had conjured just seconds before their conversation. "It's your future I'm concerned about. That's the part that has me, so that's the part I'm interested in."

Lumi had to laugh at that, "Oh? Alright, King of Darkness."

He raised his eyebrows at the name.

Lumi pointed to him, "Your hair, eyes, and clothes are all black. Is it your favorite color?"

"No... But now that you point it out I do suddenly feel self conscious."

"Then what is your favorite color," Lumi asked, pure curiosity the only reason for her question.

With a mischievous grin, the King answered, "gold."

* * *

The closer they came to Galexioius, the less the light shone.

Lumi looked at the darkness, thinking of how accurate she might have been in calling him the King of it. It was not something she was expecting.

"Is it always dark?"

There was silence on the other side of the carriage.

Lumi suddenly turned to him in horror, "Is it always dark?"

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "No...the light just comes-...it's not stable..."

"Where is the sun?"

A sad smile graced Josiah's face, "it left this land a long time ago."

"You don't have a day time?"

"We do..." he stared out the window thoughtfully, "but the day time that you are used to is not something we have. Maybe for a day each month? Sometimes it could come for a week. Three days. We don't know."

He watched Lumi's face carefully. Lumi could not hide the horror she felt. She didn't even bother to hide the tear that fell from her.

"I'm sorry."

"What?" He stared at her in bewilderment.

"I've heard this place being called a living hell. I had no idea...to never see the sun..."

Josiah rolled his eyes, "you're being a bit dramatic now. We see the sun. I'm just telling you that there is more darkness than there is light."

To his exasperation, she started to cry harder.

"You know...I'm not going to hold someone against their will...we can turn back and-,"

Just as suddenly as her crying started it stopped, "turn back? Why?"

"You...you were obviously upset!"

"Yes, but that's because there's no sun."

"I'm telling you there is a sun. It's just not their every day."

She sat up in her seat, leaning her head out the window.

Josiah could hear the guard's startled cry at her sudden appearance.

"Do you like living in Galexious?"

Her sudden question had the guards fluttering in confusion. They had no idea how to answer her.

With a sigh, Josiah pulled her back.

"You're supposed to say it's the best place in existence you dimwits," he said to his guards.

"It's the best place in existence."

"It's a little too late for that Ramus," Josiah groaned. He tugged Lumi back into the carriage again.

"Honestly, what kind of princess did they give me? Do you have a split personality? I can't keep up with you."

"That's very rude," Lumi huffed.

"It's very true. Either you were faking your tears- which I do not appreciate - or you are the fastest person to cheer themselves up I have ever seen."

"It's the second option," she stated.

Their glare match came to an end as the carriage slowed down.

"We're at the border. It's only going to get more dark from here."

"You won't be able to see me. I might run away," Lumi laughed.

"I don't find that funny," Josiah flatly said.

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood," Lumi laughed, arching her brow to see if he understood her bad pun. She was doing an amazing job at having fun and distracting herself.

The border inspection was quick. Lumi could tell there was no concern for what went into the dark land. Only out.

As they continued their travels, Lumi found herself staring more and more out the window. The sky was dark. She felt confusion at the presence of the moon. It should not be full- it was not the right time in the month for that. And it should not have been so bright?

But the stars.

She remembered Josiah's words now.

King of Galexious- the land hidden in stars.

"It's beautiful," she whispered, staring at the kaleidoscope sky that filled her vision. The diamonds that danced across the dark canvas. The image of star dust, sprinkled along heaven for her to see.

She turned to see Josiah's dumbstruck face.

"Thank you," he said. His voice was low and broke at the end. Lumi had to pull back to fully examine the expression on his face.

But it was one of surprise and gratitude.

She felt a smile pull up her lips.