102: Phasing of the Moon

Phasing of the Moon

Music Recommendation: Blooming Truth- Byun Sang Hoo

—

Emily and Aiden stared at the Storm Kingdom's prince, wondering if he was being serious, as it was evident that he wasn't here by official invitation but had taken the liberty to invite himself in. Aiden tried to understand the situation by asking, 

"Not to be rude, Prince Raylen, but from whom did you receive the letter?" 

"Queen Maya," Prince Raylen answered, and then he remarked, "I must say, the palace seems quieter than the last time I came to visit."

Not a moment later, they heard the sound of another pair of footsteps echoing through the halls and corridors before Dante came into sight. Prince Raylen turned towards him and offered a polite bow, greeting him, 

"Good evening, Prince Dante. Pardon me for arriving at such a late hour. Also, I want to offer my deepest condolences for the loss of your mother, the news of which has reached me."

"Evening, Prince Raylen," Dante greeted, his eyes subtly narrowing as he looked at the prince before him. 

Like the rest of his family members, Dante wasn't too keen about Prince Raylen's presence in the palace. But unlike his siblings, he had already been informed earlier in the week that they would be hosting Prince Raylen until he finished his work, and Queen Maya had been happy enough to accommodate him with the hopes of building a good relationship with the Storm Kingdom. 

"Aiden," Dante called out to his brother, who stood on the other side of the corridor. "Have Norrix prepare a suitable room for Prince Raylen and ensure he has everything he needs."

"That is very kind of you, Prince Dante," Prince Raylen replied, and as he continued to smile politely, his keen eyes had already noticed the cursed prince's red irises. 

It appeared that his calculations were correct; the demon was awakening faster than expected, and it was only a matter of time before chaos ensued. Prince Raylen managed to maintain a slight smile that didn't reveal his concerns. 

"Prince Raylen, please follow me. Would you like me to have a servant bring you something to eat or drink?" Aiden warmly offered, pleased to be able to host the prince. Meanwhile, his sister, who didn't share the same enthusiasm, walked over to her elder brother. 

"A glass of rum in my room should do," Prince Raylen replied as they started walking, and then gestured toward the servants carrying his trunks. "The rest of what I require I always carry, to be self-sufficient." 

Coming to stand next to Dante, Emily questioned him, "Why is he here so close to midnight?" There was something unsettling about the prince that made her uneasy. 

"I've heard that he's here on the behest of one of the Elder ministers, given his connections there," Dante responded, fixing his gaze on the prince and his brother, who continued to talk as they disappeared at the end of the corridor. "Word is that he's here to discuss and enhance trade relations between our kingdoms. Queen Maya agreed to it, believing it would be mutually beneficial and strengthen the peace between us."

Emily nodded, putting thoughts of the Storm Kingdom aside, and she inquired, "Is Anna awake?" 

"Yes, she is. For a few minutes now," Dante answered, before advising his sister, "You should get some rest and sleep, like your mother."

"I went to visit her, and she made it clear she wants no part in the interrogation this time," Emily replied with a sigh, understanding her mother's cautious approach. Her mother was trying to be wise by not getting entangled in the situation and avoiding being framed as a possible culprit. "Will you be visiting the dungeon now?" 

"Mm," Dante acknowledged, and before leaving for the dungeon, he said, "Emily. Refrain from informing Anastasia about her being my concubine. It is something I would like to explain to her personally."

"Okay," Emily replied, adding, "I will make sure the others are aware too, especially Aiden, as he has the habit of blurting things out."

Dante then made his way to the entrance of the dungeon before descending the stairs until he reached the enclosed cell where Queen Maya was imprisoned. The cell seemed more decent than the others, with a bench platform and provision for water arranged for her. Standing before the room were Queen Maya's two children and Mother Queen Ginger. 

"Oh good, Dante has finally arrived, and we can now begin a fair discussion about what took place this morning," the Mother Queen remarked. 

"Unlock the door," King Maxwell commanded, and the guard who had accompanied them turned the key, swinging the door open. 

The guard opted to remain outside while the others entered the room to find Queen Maya sitting on the bench with her eyes closed. Princess Niyasa, visibly worried about her mother, hurriedly went to sit beside her and asked, 

"Are you alright, Mother?!" 

"You can sleep later, Queen Maya. We have some questioning to do," the Mother Queen declared, and Queen Maya opened her eyes and directed a glare at the old woman. "Do you care to explain why you attempted to throw a courtesan into the sea?" 

"Like I said in the morning, I had nothing to do with it. The Vizier is lying through his teeth and trying to frame me for something I took no part in," Queen Maya responded wearily, exhausted from the shouting and yelling she had engaged in earlier that day when she was forcibly dragged in here. 

In a stern and hardened voice, King Maxwell stated, "Zion has been tortured to the point of unconsciousness, but the only name that has come up is yours. What does he gain from implicating you?" 

The accused woman looked frustrated, struggling not to snap at her naive son, who, instead of focusing on learning the games of the court, seemed preoccupied with mourning a woman who was no more. 

"Have him look me in the eye and question if I truly committed such an act then!" Queen Maya snapped, her glare shifting to her son. She knew that if it had been her daughter, Niyasa, facing these accusations, she would have protected her and their position more effectively. "Last night, I relaxed in the sitting room for a while, and Niyasa was with me. Then, I retired to my room to sleep. After that, when I woke up, out of nowhere, I found myself being thrown in here like some common criminal!" 

"You are the only one who has had issues with her, Mother! Did you try to kill her, as well as Marianne and the former king?" King Maxwell questioned his mother, his inquiries only adding to Queen Maya's anger. 

"This is something I am interested in as well," the Mother Queen chimed in, raising her eyebrows. "Though, if we are discussing those who disliked Anastasia, then there's one obvious suspect," she added, turning to look at her granddaughter, who was staring at her mother. 

Princess Niyasa, feeling the weight of her grandmother's gaze, became startled, but then she laughed, "You are joking, aren't you, Grandmother? I didn't do it!" 

"It is just a possibility. Relax," the Mother Queen said, looking at the princess, who seemed offended.

Queen Maya then turned to the one person she believed to be of sound mind and addressed him directly. "Dante, you don't think I am someone who would do that, do you? Have you questioned the Vizier and uncovered his lies?" she asked, with hope in her voice. 

As Zion's heartbeat remained steady when he revealed the truth, Dante had no reason to question the Vizier's answer about whom he was working for. But at the same time, he could sense that Queen Maya was not foolish enough to be involved in throwing Anastasia into the sea. Because if she had been responsible, it would have reached the same point they were at now, with her confined in this dimly lit room. 

Even if Queen Maya wasn't involved, it was evident that the Vizier was still concealing the truth, suggesting that this wasn't merely a simple scheme to get rid of a courtesan. 

Despite Dante's intuition that Queen Maya had no involvement in this matter, he replied, 

"Given the circumstances and Zion's testimony, we have no choice but to believe he is telling the truth. He has been tortured for information, and you are the only one he mentions."

Queen Maya's mouth fell open, and the thought of rotting in this prison threatened to drive her mad. She shook her head in disbelief and whispered, 

"This is all a lie. How could you even lock me up here without any solid evidence?!"

The Mother Queen parted her lips to say something but then decided to keep the remark to herself until it was determined whether the woman was innocent or guilty. 

Dante observed Queen Maya closely, sensing her inner turmoil, despite her attempts to remain composed. His red eyes blazed brighter than the sun, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. Even though they had likely not yet found the true culprit working with Zion, he enjoyed the sight in front of him. After all, this was the woman who had banished his mother from the palace, and he relished the idea of watching her burn up in the fiery consequences of her actions. 

"You can ask my maid, and she will confirm that I never once left my room," Queen Maya urged, hoping for them to verify her alibi right away to secure her release. 

"She has already been questioned," Dante responded before adding, "And her statement was that she fell asleep, so she cannot be entirely certain."

"As this is a matter concerning the palace, the ministers won't be getting involved in it," the Mother Queen stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "I seem to have forgotten what the consequences of trying to drown a courtesan were." At this, the woman paused and then corrected herself, "Pardon me, not a courtesan, but a concubine of the royal family."

Queen Maya, who had not witnessed what had occurred after being placed in confinement, furrowed her brow before turning to look at her son in disbelief. Princess Niyasa wore a similar expression of shock, as she had not expected the lowly maid to become a concubine this quickly. 

"Dante's concubine," the Mother Queen disclosed, revering the fact, and she observed how Queen Maya appeared confused by the revelation. 

"Dante's concubine?" Queen Maya repeated, and the Mother Queen nodded while King Maxwell's expression hardened at the reminder of the news personally delivered to him by his brother. 

"That's correct. You attempted to drown his concubine, who is a member of the royal family, and the repercussions will be severe. Because it is a crime," the Mother Queen emphasised, intending to scare the woman.

King Maxwell then ordered those present in the room, "I would like to have a word with my mother. Alone." 

"I will go check to see if Zion is awake," Dante announced, stepping out of the room, and the Mother Queen stated, "I will do the same."

As their receding footsteps softly echoed down the passageway, Princess Niyasa hadn't stepped out of the cell, torn because this was her mother who was imprisoned. She found it hard to digest that her mother was confined in such a place, and she demanded answers from her brother, 

"Brother Maxwell, how could you subject our mother to this rotten space? Do you not believe her words?" 

"Do you require a special order to get out of here, Niyasa?" King Maxwell questioned his sister, causing her to instantly shut her mouth. 

"Why are you angry at her for speaking the truth?" Queen Maya asked her son, her voice tinged with hurt. "I cannot believe you would do this to me."

"You didn't give me any reason to believe you," King Maxwell shook his head as he stared back at her. "Just this morning, you were showing disdain towards her, and you are the only one who gains from it in every aspect. Did you kill Marianne, Mother?" 

Queen Maya's lips tightened, and she calmly replied, "Listen to me carefully, Maxwell. I had nothing to do with your father's death or that concubine. I am capable of many things, but I am not a murderer. It is your choice whether to believe me or not, and there is very little more I can say. You bring me nothing but disappointment, Maxwell."

The expression in Maxwell's eyes hardened, and his jaw clenched. He said, "Even though I am the king, just as you wanted me to be, it will never be enough. No matter how much I strive to meet all your expectations, Mother. Because you will never see the effort and thought I put in for your sake." 

"Thank you for imprisoning me here without even knowing whether the allegations are true or not. Clearly, you consider it a wise decision," Queen Maya said, looking down on her son for his lack of capability. "If you truly care and love me, prove it by getting me out of here."

Maxwell turned a deaf ear to his mother's words and said, "This is the safest place for you to be at the moment, at least from what I have seen. And maybe you will not accept it, but I am doing what I can."

"How long am I supposed to stay here?" Queen Maya asked him, her lips forming a thin line, indicating her dissatisfaction. 

"Not more than a week. I will release you as soon as I know it is safe for you," Maxwell assured his mother, who only stared back at him. 

Away from the room where Queen Maya was confined and being questioned, Dante and his grandmother arrived at the place where the Vizier was restrained, his arms tied by two ropes and raised towards the ceiling. His legs were shackled with a thick iron chain connected to the ground, severely restricting his movements. 

"Did he die, or is he still alive?" The Mother Queen observed the bloody lines and the mess that covered the floor. Zion was shirtless, wearing only trousers. 

"Alive, considering he is awake," Dante replied, taking a step forward.

"Huh, you can tell?" the Mother Queen expressed her amazement and wondered what other powers her grandson possessed. From what she had heard from Aziel, Anastasia had spent quite some time in the sea before being rescued, and Dante had been engulfed in black smoke. She then questioned the bound man, 

"A little too ambitious, weren't you, Zion?" 

Zion had only just regained consciousness, and he opened his eyes, blood smeared on his face. Dante questioned him, 

"Who are you working for?" 

"I already told you… it is Queen Maya… She's the one I work… for," Zion replied tiredly, as he could still feel the sting of the ropes over the fresh stab wounds he had received from the first prince. He then chuckled and added, "It is a pity, isn't it? To know you deserve something, but you cannot have it?" 

"If you are talking about your family stealing my family's line of work, you are damn right," the Mother Queen retorted. 

With Queen Maya and the Vizier being held on opposite sides of the dungeon, it was easier for them to speak without interruption. "Nothing that cannot be fixed after your blunder," she added, ending her words there. 

"Who offered you a better position that you decided to create a rift between the royal family members?" Dante questioned as he unlocked the cell's iron door and stepped inside. "You knew how important that letter was, and you failed to deliver it to me." 

"Why don't you ask her instead of me? You will find all the answers you need," Zion responded, and he said, "Lady Lucretia was going to die one day anyway. What does it matter?"

Dante's fingernails started to elongate as a rush of anger coursed through his veins. 

"You seem different, Prince Dante. Your eyes are red, as if they crave blood…" Zion murmured as he cautiously watched Dante from the corner of his eyes. He then asked, "Are you going to kill me?" 

Dante's nails returned to their original length as he calmly remarked, "Not yet. But until then, live in fear." He continued, "Let us assume you are working for Queen Maya. Since when have you been scheming against the Blackthorn family members?" When he didn't receive a response, he picked up a leather whip and lashed it across the man's back, eliciting a painful groan that echoed through the other empty cells. 

Zion's face was contorted in pain as he hissed through his clenched teeth, feeling the whip tearing the skin on his already bloody back. He murmured, "Years… It has been years. Carefully planned."

"And what does the plan entail?" Dante inquired further to see the man smile. 

"The fall of the Blackthorns." 

[Music Recommendation: Following the clock to sleep- Oberhofer]

Far away from the echoes of the man's screams and the woes of the trapped schemer in the dungeon, Anastasia continued to sit on the bed with her face buried between her drawn-up knees. She whispered to herself, 

"So shameful…" She had never known a tongue could be used the way Dante had. 

After Dante left the room, closing the door behind him, Anastasia had combusted in embarrassment at what they had done, and her cheeks burned brightly. 

Even though several minutes had passed since it happened, Anastasia could still feel the lingering sensation of Dante's lips on hers, and when she unconsciously bit her lip, her eyebrows drew in as she felt a slight sting. Lifting her head to sit up straight, she touched her lips, only to notice a red liquid on the tip of her finger. 

Blood. His teeth had nipped her, and, at that moment, he resembled the devil because of those sharp canines and red eyes. As she heard the doorknob turn, Anastasia turned her gaze towards it and saw Aziel stepping back inside the room. He was followed by Theresa, who pushed a food cart inside.

"This meal was cooked a few minutes ago and is still hot. There's also sherbet made from lemon and ginger to replenish your lost energy, milady. If you need anything else, please pull the rope at the side of the bed, and a servant will arrive to assist you," Aziel informed Anastasia with a bow. "I shall take my leave now," he said to her before departing. 

"Thank you," Anastasia returned the bow from where she sat, and the door closed, leaving her and Theresa alone. 

Theresa stopped the cart beside the bed and sat beside Anastasia before placing her hand on the latter's forehead. She asked in concern, 

"Are you sick, Anna? Your forehead is burning up." 

Anastasia shook her head, placing her own hands on her cheeks and feeling their warmth. She said, "I am fine. Really."

"Some of the maids were whispering about a woman being thrown into the sea. Don't tell me that was you?" Theresa asked suspiciously, and Anastasia smiled sheepishly. "Anna…"

"It just happened. I seem to follow wherever trouble arises, or trouble is just everywhere. At least now I know that I cannot swim back home," Anastasia joked before a sigh escaped her lips. 

Theresa frowned at her remark and murmured, "Every time we think things can't get any worse, you prove it wrong… People in this palace are cruel. No matter what happens, nothing justifies taking a person's life." 

"When you can buy many people with money, a life or two doesn't make much difference. All that matters to them is their own selfishness," Anastasia replied with a sad smile as she hadn't forgotten drinking an enormous amount of salt water. "We are treated as commodities, owned by others." 

Today, Anastasia came to the realisation that knowing someone's secret could get her killed. If it weren't for Mary's ghost, who had led her there, she would have never learned the truth, and the Vizier would have never been caught. Maybe Dante would find closure regarding what had happened when Lady Lucretia was on her deathbed. So, in a way… even though she almost drowned, there seemed to be a silver lining in this situation. 

She then said, "There is good and bad in the palace. In the corners, in the quietness…" 

Theresa looked confused, as what Anastasia said didn't make sense to her. She said, "I don't follow you, Anna." 

Anastasia let go of her knees and stretched out her legs before she said, "Even though many things are not right in this palace, there are some good aspects. Like Princess Emily, Prince Aiden, and Prince Dante, who have been kind to me. And then there's you," she smiled. And as the thought crossed her mind, she couldn't help but reflect on how being treated with respect and kindness was the most basic aspect of human interactions. Unfortunately, she realised only a few truly understood and practised it. 

Theresa returned the smile and said, "Of course, I will be here for you. And I am glad that others are treating you well. You deserve all the goodness, Anna." When Anastasia's stomach grumbled, the older woman added, "You must be very hungry. Let's get you something to eat right away." 

Anastasia asked, "Did you eat?" 

"Three hours ago," Theresa replied with a smile as she began to dish the food onto a plate. Anastasia quickly swung her legs over the side of the bed to help herself, as she was not used to having people serve her anything. 

"That means it is past twelve in the night," Anastasia suddenly felt guilty for selfishly asking Theresa to come here when the woman must have been sleeping. 

"Don't look at me like that, Anna. We aren't strangers, and if the situation was reversed, wouldn't you have done the same for me?" Theresa asked, and Anastasia handed the plate back to her. "I told you, I already ate." 

Anastasia nodded before saying, "But that was three hours ago, and eating alone feels lonely. Not to mention, the food looks delicious." 

Theresa responded, "Both of us will get into trouble. You, for feeding a maid, and me for eating it." When Anastasia rose from the bed, Theresa inquired, "Where are you going?" 

When Anastasia stood up, her bedsheet slid from her body and fell on the ground as she walked towards the closed door and pushed the latch to lock it. She then turned to Theresa and suggested, "Now we both can enjoy the food together." 

The enticing aroma of the delicious food assaulted Theresa's senses, and with just the two of them present in the room, she hesitated a moment before agreeing. They both settled on the edge of the bed, savouring the meal. As Theresa laid eyes on the delectable spread, she couldn't help but say, 

"The royals sure like to feed the courtesans and concubines well, don't they? They like to fatten all of you up and take good care of you." 

Anastasia didn't know if it was due to her hunger, but the food tasted absolutely delicious. Her eyes took in the various items on her plate as she chewed and swallowed the food before saying, 

"I think they feel bad because I almost died. Because as far as I remember, courtesans aren't usually provided with such generous portions of food, nor such a variety." 

Unbeknownst to both women, it wasn't merely pity driving the special treatment, but rather Anastasia's sudden change of status that had prompted this special attention. 

"Here, try this. It tastes good," Anastasia offered as she served a dish to Theresa as they sat together, eating and talking, not realising how much time had passed. Once they finished eating, they neatly arranged everything back on the trolley and washed their hands using the copper jug and a bowl. 

Anastasia was grateful for the meal and decided to thank the prince for sending it. Thinking about Dante, however, only brought back memories of their intimate moments on the bed, causing her to stand up abruptly. 

"Are you sure you aren't feeling sick, Anna? Your face is turning red," Theresa pointed out with concern. 

"I think it's just the weather. It feels quite hot," Anastasia downplayed her discomfort, behaving as if it were nothing. She walked over to the window and pushed it open, inviting the breeze to enter the room. "This feels much better. Come here, you can see the sea beneath the stars, and the half-moon is shining brightly too." 

Theresa sensed something was amiss but decided not to press Anastasia, as she had already had a hard day. She got up and joined the young woman near the window, where Anastasia's head peeked out with a smile. Theresa followed suit and commented, 

"It does look beautiful here at this hour."

"Right?" Anastasia replied, feeling the air cooling her warm skin. As she took a deep breath and exhaled, she couldn't help but acknowledge that the sea looked intimidating. She said, "It's so peaceful here—"1

Suddenly, they were startled by a crashing sound that caused Anastasia's heart to leap out of her chest. When they turned around, their eyes fell on a grim-looking Dante standing at the front of the room. 

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