Finding Stardust

"General Moria," Arreya's words finally stirred General Moria from his reverie. Respectfully, the man then bowed deeply.

"Good morning, Princess."

"It's nice to see you again," replied Arreya. "Have you been well?"

No matter what, General Moria was her husband's subordinate when Kaoshin was still in the military and they had a good relationship before she and Kaoshin eloped and betrayed the royal family.

"I am honored to see you again, Your Highness," General Moria looked at the princess with a look of awe. This woman still looked so young, he thought. "I am very well. I hope you are healthy."

Arreya nodded. "Thank you."

Apart from her sad expression, nothing had changed too much for the princess from when the General last met her in the Akkadian capital. At that time General Kaoshin Stardust was just sentenced for treason. Ah ... it's been almost 15 years.

Princess Arreya was treated well in The Dragonite, more like a state guest than a prisoner. Of course, it was because Therius considered Arreya his mother-in-law. He made a point to show everyone that Arreya was his guest of honor.

As the crown prince who would soon ascend the throne, Therius ordered General Moria to bring The Dragonite back to the capital against the king's order. He wanted to go back as soon as possible, and The Dragonite was the fastest ship that the military currently had.

In half an hour, they were back at the military base in Milestad. Therius' chest was pounding as he imagined that Emma would soon be able to meet her mother.

Finally, her wish was fulfilled, he thought. The man was happy to be the person who fulfilled a simple wish that turned out to be so difficult. After almost 16 years... Emma would see her mother again.

"Your Highness, your assistant has important news to tell you." A soldier who saw Therius descending from The Dragonite quickly came and approached him.

The man bowed respectfully and waved to Avato, who was standing at the end of the field. Avato quickly walked over to Therius and delivered the news from the palace.

"Your Highness ... The king passed away this morning. He died in his sleep. The doctor said there was bleeding in his heart," Avato said quickly. "I heard this news from my sister secretly. Now, the gates to the palace complex are closed, and no one is allowed in and out."

Therius' face looked very relieved to hear that. He turned to look at Xion, who was standing behind him. He smiled at the man to show his gratitude. Xion's estimate was correct. King Cassius would die in two days. Finally, everything went according to plan.

Ah .. these two young men are indeed tough, thought Arreya. She was relieved that Emma had these two people to help her. As a mother, she always felt very guilty for leaving Emma on earth to protect her from being chased by the Akkadian royal family.

She had no idea that somehow, Emma would still be able to return to Akkadia.

Maybe this is fate, she thought. Emma was destined to return to this planet and meet Therius and Xion here.

For a dozen years, Arreya tried to guess why Emma looked so sad at that time. But now, slowly, she could guess why. Ahh ... her heart ached when she thought about it, like it was stabbed with a knife until it bled.

Her poor poor daughter had to suffer so much. Arreya subconsciously pressed her chest in pain.

At least .. I have met my daughter, Arreya thought sadly.

"Mother ... because King Cassius has passed away ... now, I am the new king of Akkadia. Once the palace announces grandfather's death, I will take the throne, and when that time comes, I will erase all the enmity and grudge between our two families," said Therius to Arreya in a respectful voice. "I hope you will be patient."

"Can I see Emma now?" asked Princess Arreya, looking hopeful. Therius nodded immediately.

"Of course, Mother. We're going to the palace now."

Therius, Arreya, Xion, General Moria, and several other military officers immediately left for the capital. Because they heard the news that the king had passed away, they all felt it was time to go to the capital and support the Crown Prince, who would soon take the throne to replace his grandfather.

Several large military travs flew above the capital that afternoon and landed on the large plaza in the center of the king's palace complex. Therius quickly got off the vehicle and walked inside the royal palace.

"Uhmm ... Mother, don't stay away from me," Therius told Arreya before they stepped into the palace. "Since the events of 12 years ago, the king ordered the palace to be protected by the anti-magic shield. No one can use their power in the palace. I don't want anything to happen to you."

Arreya let out a short sigh. She remembered that incident. She wreaked havoc in the palace and kidnapped Prince Darius and threatened to kill him if Kaoshin was killed. That's why her husband's sentence was changed to life imprisonment.

She understood how the event traumatized the royal family. They preferred to improve their security with technology and ordinary soldiers, rather than risk a formidable mage like Arreya going back to destroy the palace.

"I understand," Arreya nodded.

"As soon as I ascend the throne, I'll destroy the shield. I don't like living in a palace made like a prison," Therius explained. "Emma and I will not live here. We agreed to live in my current residence. This palace will only be my workplace."

Xion rolled his eyes at how enthusiastic Therius was in telling Arreya about his plan. He could tell that his friend was feeling nervous about meeting his mother-in-law and wanted so badly to leave a good impression that he unconsciously talked too much.

It's not like Therius, Xion thought. Love could indeed make people change. He wondered if he also had changed because he fell in love with Emma?

Hmm ...

What was clear, if not for Emma, ​​today he would not bother dealing with politics at the royal palace and doing so much hard work to help prevent open war between Akkadia and Taeshi and save Taeshi's capital and its 10 million citizens.

Crazy! He had even killed a king out of love for Emma ...

This was not something he had done before, and Xion felt that he would never want to get so far involved again.

He only did it to help Emma. That was all.

"Your Highness... You are awaited by Her Majesty Queen Ygrit in the King's chamber," said the head of the staff when he saw Therius enter through the main entrance. His eyes narrowed when he saw Princess Arreya's presence beside Therius. "Queen Ygrit requested that the prisoner be brought there too, under full guard."

The six king's guards suddenly appeared out of nowhere and surrounded them, looking ready to fight. Therius glared at them.

"What is this? Do you want to be disrespectful to me? I am your king!" Therius snapped at them all. His hands were akimbo and his expression was icy cold.

"Your Highness, how did you know that His Majesty has passed away? The palace has not announced it yet," asked Joren, still respectfully. He quickly continued his words. "Queen Ygrit said as long as the palace has not announced King Cassius's death, then you are still a crown prince and must submit to the king's orders."

Therius snorted in displeasure. He understood the reason why his grandmother had delayed announcing the king's death. It was because the queen still wanted to be in control until the very last moment.

"General Moria, summon all the ministers to the palace and arrange an emergency meeting tonight. We will announce the king's death and take the next steps," Therius told the general who had followed him behind.

General Moria nodded respectfully then turned to leave.

"Your Highness, please come with us," said Joren respectfully. He opened the way with his friends and swiftly took positions in front and behind Therius and his small entourage, providing a tight guard as they made their way to the king's private residence.

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From the author:

***

THE CURSED PRINCE

The crown prince was cursed on the day he was born, that he will never be happy. What's worse, no woman could touch him without dying.

Thus, finding a wife to produce an heir became the royal family's greatest challenge since the prince is the only son.

Until one day.. A slave girl who tried to kill him didn't end up dying after they touched. She was a princess from one of their colonies who vowed to avenge her family's death by killing the crown prince.. And that's how she ended up in his castle.

Seeing that she was the only woman he could have sexual relationship with, without killing her, the prince made an agreement to let her go and free her kingdom from his oppression if she produced for him three heirs.

She said yes, but every day that they were together, she made plans to kill him and get her revenge.

****

What do you think about the story? I just got the idea after a shower yesterday and couldn't get it out of my head. Sorry if this is TMI... hahahhaa.

I can promise this story to be steamy and fluffy (I'm feeling good about writing more mature contents in my next book, because the story/plot requires it. Even though I love lemons (smut), I don't like to force it on my characters without the proper plot).

Since Web.no.vel. is having a new policy, all new books will need to be vetted by a content editor before it can go live on the site/platform. So, I think you will be able to see the book if you search for it on Monday. 

Oh, as it is joining the current WPC (Writing Prompt Contest) about royal romance, pleaseeee vote your power stone to that book so it can win the contest. Thank you and love you!!! xx

Btw, if you haven't already, you can follow my Insta.gram account: @missrealitybites and this books' account @finding.stardust. I often post spoilers there and also news about my other works, in addition to visual references, trivias, etc etc.