Finding Stardust

KNOCK

Kira entered Emma's room and found the princess was sitting on her bed, like a statue, facing her bedroom window.

"My lady, Sir Xion is in front of your room. He wants to meet you," said Kira respectfully.

Emma nodded and rose from her bed. Her face did not show any expression. Inwardly, Kira felt that this princess was getting more and more like the crown prince.

Therius rarely showed expression on his face. It was only recently that his staff began to see their master smile or look irritated.

Ever since they met Emma, ​​they had always seen the princess look sad or cry. But today, when they saw her return from a trip with the prince, Emma didn't look sad anymore.

However, her pair of beautiful eyes were no longer had lights on them either. She looked cold and unhappy.

Emma stepped out through her massive doorway and found Xion standing by the door. The young man seemed to be smiling brightly as usual.

"Hey .. I'm glad to see you have come home. I have very good news for you!!" exclaimed Xion. He looked too happy to see her that he patted Emma's shoulder hard. He was like a child who had not seen his friends for a long time and now they were out to play together again. "How was the trip with Therius?"

"It was fine," said Emma. She looked at Xion's hand that was on her shoulder and still grabbed it excitedly. This man was really like a child sometimes, she thought, and she didn't mean it like a childish, but in an innocent way.

"He took you to his parents' holiday home in the countryside, didn't he? The place is nice, huh ..." said Xion. He started chattering non-stop. "I've been there. It's a huge house."

Actually, Emma wondered in her heart, how could Xion, who was so fond of talking, enjoy living in solitude on his lonely mountain. Who would he talk to? Who would listen to all his chatter like this? Wouldn't he feel lonely?

Or did he talk to animals and plants? Ah, well... somehow even if he did, Emma wouldn't be surprised. If anyone would talk to animals and plants, Xion was quirky enough to be one.

"I didn't pay much attention to the house," Emma confessed. "But it is a very beautiful place. It's at the top of a hill and overlooks a very beautiful green valley."

"Why ... how come you didn't pay attention to his house? What were you both doing?" asked Xion with a frow. Then, he squinted and looked at Emma in a probing look.

Emma, ​could assume that Xion was thinking dirty thoughts about her and Therius. She immediately brushed the young man's hand off her shoulder.

"I was lying sick all day at his house. So I didn't have time to admire the place, okay?" she grumbled.

"Why were you sick again? What happened?" Xion's voice was suddenly filled with concern. "You're always sick these days. Shouldn't you see a doctor?"

"Oh ... did something happen?" asked Xion. Somehow, he thought something bad had happened, but he wanted to hear it from Emma.

"Haoran passed away," said Emma briefly. She wouldn't go into detail, because that would only tear open the wounds in her heart. However, those three words were enough for Xion.

He immediately understood what happened and his sympathy for the girl was overflowing again.

Oh, poor girl. Poor, poor girl...

As soon as she arrived in Akkadia, death after death had come to her mercilessly and took one by one the people she loved.

"My condolences," said Xion quietly. He knew that no words of comfort would be of use at this time.

"It's okay. Now Haoran is finally at peace. I have let him go, and now I have to move on," said Emma.

Xion nodded. He felt sorry for Emma, ​​but he was also relieved that from now on she would be looked after by his best friend. He knew Therius would treat Emma well and would not let anyone hurt her.

"By the way, you came here because you have good news for me?" Emma quickly changed the topic. She didn't want to linger in sadness. "What is it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Ah.. that's right. I wanted to ask you to come with me and celebrate the Three Moon Fire Festival. Do you remember?" Xion smiled brightly again.

Emma immediately remembered that the Akkadian people should soon be able to witness this natural phenomenon when all three Akkadian moons appeared together in the night sky. They celebrated it with a festival called the Three Moon Fire festival.

"Is it tonight?" asked Emma.

"Yes... uhm .. but you're in mourning, so now I feel bad asking you to go to the festival," said Xion awkwardly. "We should just cancel it and go to the next one."

The next one would happen in 15 months, so it was actually not a good idea.

"Oh ..." Emma nodded. This was a very rare natural phenomenon. In the past, when she heard about this festival, Emma actually hoped that Haoran would get well and that someday they would be able to enjoy the sight together.

But now .. it looked like Emma could only enjoy it on her own.

"It's okay ..." said Emma. "I will go."

"Really?" asked Xion happily. His face was radiant again like his usual self. 

The man had a contagious joy and Emma slowly started to feel better after Xion came and talked to her.

"As far as I know, in this capital, the people will take to the streets and light lanterns together. They will then release the lanterns into the sky after they write down their wishes. You will definitely like it," said Xion excitedly.

Emma became reminded of the lantern festivals in various cultures on earth. The Chinese and several other nations had the same penchant for lanterns and make a wish tradition.

Ahh .. she shouldn't think about earth anymore. It would only make her feel sad. It was better for her to focus on her life in Akkadia.

"I look forward to the festival tonight," Emma nodded. She finally smiled faintly.

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From the author:

I want to join Wattys (writing) competition in Wattpad and so the book cannot be published on other sites. It has to be exclusive on Wattpad. So, go find the book now before it's gone. The title is:

Ludwina \u0026 Andrea: A Love That Never Fails.