"WELCOME BACK, Lady Nystrom."

Tilly smiled "sweetly" at High Priest Howard. "Ah, you're still alive, Your Eminence. I see you that you haven't been promoted to a saint yet despite Saint Forrester's disappearance."

"It doesn't work that way, Your Grace," High Priest Howard said. "A High Priest can't simply be "promoted" as a saint without the blessing of the heavens."

"I know that," she said. "I just thought that Aku Moonchester may have given his blessing to you since he thinks he's a god anyway."

She heard Luna and Roarke stifle their laughter behind her.

The High Priest just smiled, obviously amused by her. "I'm glad to see that you haven't changed at all, Lady Nystrom."

"I think I've gotten prettier though," she said. "But don't think about complimenting me now. I only want to hear those words from Kiho."

High Priest Howard just laughed while shaking his head. "Please follow me, Your Grace," he said. "His Majesty is waiting in the prayer room. He has already reached out to Her Royal Highness."

"I thought Nia Moonchester was already stripped-off of her title," she said while following the High Priest to the prayer room.

"His Majesty doesn't like it when we don't refer to Her Royal Highness with her princess title."

She rolled her eyes at that petty reason.

But she shouldn't have been surprised that he followed the kid emperor. The High Priest, despite saying that he had been waiting for the Moon Serpent all his life, was a slave to the Moonchesters through and through.

Though I admit that out of all the cohorts of the Moonchesters, High Priest Howard is the one who has the vaguest goal of all. There was a time that he almost pledged a genuine vow to me and Winter. But then, he never acted like he was on our side.

Well, it wasn't like she could trust the High Priest anyway.

"Welcome, Lady Nystrom and your dear friends," Aku Moonchester, who sat on the sofa facing the cauldron with flaming orange flame, greeted them. Of course, he was having tea as expected. Prayer rooms didn't usually have tea tables. It was definitely prepared just to accommodate the emperor. "It feels surreal to have to face you for the entire day."

High Priest Howard quietly stood behind the cauldron, facing them.

"I know, right?" Tilly said, then she sat on the sofa beside the sofa where the emperor was. Luna and Roarke stood behind her. Even back in Solarium, whenever she was in an official meeting, Luna and the Keepers would stand behind her instead of joining her on the table. At first, she felt awkward to have her friends act like her bodyguards. But she eventually understood that despite being friends, they were also "colleagues." She had learned their respect their professionalism even more. "Since I don't want to see your face any longer than I already have, let's get straight to the point."

The emperor put his teacup down on the coaster. "Agreed."

"As I said before, we have the medicine that can cure Nia Moonchester's infertility," she said seriously. "In exchange of that, I want a bottle of your blood, the permission to travel outside the Royal Capital, and to bring Kiho with me."

"You're asking for too much."

"No, I'm just asking for the same worth as what you will gain from our deal," she insisted. "You'll get to fix Nia Moonchester's body and the key to your goal."

"That's too good to be true," he said with a smirk. "How can I trust you, Lady Nystrom?"

"I'm glad you asked," she said. "I don't trust you as well, Aku Moonchester. I know that you're going to betray me because that's your forte."

He scowled as a response to her insult.

She just smiled at his reaction. "That's why I want us to do a binding vow."

He glared at her. "I won't do a binding vow with you."

She couldn't help but laugh at that. "Of course you won't. After all, a binding vow favors the person with the purer bloodline. Since I'm a Rosenberg and you're just a Moonchester, I have the advantage. Even if I use my husband's name, I will still come out as superior to your bloodline since Kiho is a god." She let out an exaggerated sigh. "Now I understand why you're so envious of me."

"Shut up," the emperor snarled at her.

"You shut up because I'm not yet done," she snapped back at him. "Let Nia Moonchester do the binding vow with me."

Aku Moonchester looked shocked with what she said.

"Nia Moonchester, before I cursed her, was a Guardian– a status that can be considered equal to a minor god," she continued. Of course, she only learned that from Solaris since she lost Soleil Rosenberg's memories the same night she retrieved it. But looking back, she felt more at ease without her past self's memories. Anyway… "That will make the binding vow between me and Nia Moonchester fair. Also, I intend to make the terms as fair as possible. Unlike you, I have values. I won't give up my humanity just to bring down a scum like you, Aku Moonchester. You're not worth it."

"Do you think I will let you make a binding vow with Nia?" he hissed at her. "You didn't mention the binding vow when you first offered the deal to me, Lady Nystrom."

"Well, what can I do? I'm a woman full of surprises," she said with a shrug. "Plus, it's part of my "give-Aku-Moonchester-a-heart-attack-even-though-he-doesn't-have-a-heart agenda."

Luna and Roarker, once again, stifled their laughter behind her.

This time, even High Priest Howard had to bite his lower lip to probably stop himself from laughing.

Wow, did I get funnier over the last five years or something?

"The binding vow will ensure that we can't betray each other while we head to the same goal," she explained to the kid emperor who was about to throw tantrums again. ���But as soon as we get what we want from the land that drinks blood, the vow will be over. We're free to kill each other by then."

The emperor remained quiet. He was probably contemplating the pros and cons of her offer. She used that chance to convince him to fall into her trap.

Yes, trap.

She still had so much in store for the Moonchesters.

"I know that you're hesitant to agree with this deal because you don't want the Fire Mages to be cleared of the sin that you accused us of many years ago," she continued sternly. "But think about it, Aku Moonchester. If you're confident that you can kill me, then all you have to do is stop me from returning to the Royal Capital after I get the truth from the Great Fire Tree. If I die, I won't get to reveal the truth to the people of the empire. But if you turn down my offer, you will never get the last key that you need. Think about it, Aku Moonchester."

Aku Moonchester fell silent for a couple of seconds before he talked again. "The binding vow won't take effect if one party is coerced from taking it," he said. "Nia hates you more than I do. Do you think you can convince her to do with a binding vow with you when she doesn't want her body fixed?"

"Who do you think you're talking to, Aku Moonchester?" Tilly asked with a soft laugh. "Just connect me to Nia Moonchester and watch me do my magic."

***

IT WAS hard for Kiho to watch Winter and Julian, two little kids, kneel before him with their heads hanged low.

He didn't ask his children to do that.

After he made sure that Winter was already okay, he left them in the room to reflect on their actions. Then, he brought Amilo to a clean room and gave him first-aid. Since the jewel maker's injuries weren't serious, he didn't call a doctor.

When Amilo woke up, he asked him what happened. Unfortunately, the jewel maker said that he lost consciousness as soon as the loud blast went off the room. Apparently, he was hit by a solid thing in the end, knocking him out instantly.

After being assured by Amilo that he could take care of himself, he returned to the room where he left the children.

And as soon as he entered the room, Winter and Julian were already both kneeling.

"Why are you kneeling?" Winter asked the kids in a cold tone while his arms were crossed over his chest. He had to be that strict or else, the children wouldn't take him seriously. And he was really pissed. Aside from the fact that he was worried about Winter and Julian, Amilo was also hurt. Worse, even though it was obvious that a huge attack occurred in the annex, Winter and Julian looked like they didn't want to talk about it. "Did I ask you to do that?"

"We're s-sorry, Father," Julian said in a scared voice. He couldn't even lift his head to meet his eyes. "I-I'm taking responsibility…"

He felt gutted while listening to Julian's trembling voice but he knew that he shouldn't give in easily.

Tilly, I wish you were here.

"Yes, you should," Winter said to Julian in an unapologetic voice. "I apologize that I wasn't able to protect Uncle Amilo, Dad. But everything is Julian's fault."

He had to close his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose.

Winter didn't call Julian "brother" this time. That told him that the fight between the two children was quite serious. The fact that they used their Mana to fight was also very worrying. Still, the kids wouldn't tell him the reason they fought.

God, Winter. You really live up to your "little rascal" moniker. And you inherited your mommy's stubbornness.

"Winter, I know that you're still a baby," Kiho said, trying to sound patient as much as possible. "But if you want to grow up a decent adult, you should learn how to take responsibility of your actions."

"And that's why I apologized for not being able to protect Uncle Amilo, Dad," Winter insisted, then he raised his head to meet his gaze. His son's golden eyes that resembled his were very clear. Although they had the same eye color, Winter's gaze still reminded him of Tilly's fearless look. "I'm the victim here, Dad, so why do I have to be the bigger person?" He glared at Julian. "I deserve an apology from him instead."

"I'm sorry, Winter," Julian said, then he turned to his little brother. "But shouldn't you apologize to me for lying to Father just to get me in trouble?"

As expected, Winter glared at Julian.

"Are you two seriously fighting in front of me now?"

Winter and Julian avoided each other's gaze, then they bowed and apologized to him again.

He let out a frustrated sigh before he talked again. "Winter, go to your room and don't come out unless I call for you," he said. "Julian, return to the main mansion and lock yourself up in the room. You're also not allowed to come out unless I summon you."

"Yes, Dad.���

"Yes, Father."

"We'll talk again once your mother comes home later," he added gently, making Winter and Julian raised their heads in shock. "Yes, your mommy will finally return to us. Be careful, boys. Your mother is a lot scarier than me especially when she's angry. If you lie to her face, you're dead and I won't save you."

Winter smiled brightly as if he wasn't scolded a while ago. "Mommy will come home? Finally!"

Kiho's heart was full by simply watching Winter's happy face. But he noticed that Julian's reaction was opposite to Winter's. Was it because he was thinking that he wasn't a part of their family?

Tilly, I need you here to raise our two boys.

***

"I'LL make it clear for us, Aku Moonchester," Tilly said. "If you accept my offer, we will work together until we reach the land that drinks blood. I will ask the Great Fire Tree about the truth behind the Fire Mages' "betrayal." In short, I will get a solid piece of evidence that will prove to the people of the empire that my clan is innocent."

Aku Moonchester raised a brow at that. "You're going that far just to prove your clan's innocent?"

Okay, he was sharp. She'd give him that.

Of course, that wasn't her only goal. Thankfully, she already expected that the kid emperor would question that. So, she already prepared a cover-up story.

"I'm seeking the Great Fire Tree to find out why I'm called the 'Daughter of the Sun,'" she said. That wasn't technically a lie since she was really curious about that. Solaris couldn't give her an answer, so might as well ask the Great Fire Tree. "Anyway, if I make the binding vow with Nia Moonchester, then that means I have to travel with her. You can ask your best chess pieces to accompany her to make sure that you'll get what you want."

She knew that Aku Moonchester wouldn't leave the empire just to travel to the land that drinks blood.

"Don't talk as if everything has already been decided," the emperor said, then he turned to the High Priest. "Have you connected to Nia?"

High Priest Howard bowed his head. "I can open the communication portal anytime you ask, Your Majesty."

"Do it," Aku Moonchester said, then he sipped his tea before he continued. "Open the communication portal with Nia."

The High Priest just bowed, then he sprinkled some golden dust in the orange flame.

A few moments later, the flame disappeared and it was replaced by a transparent crystal-like "monitor."

The screen clearly showed Nia Moonchester's calm and beautiful face as she sipped her tea. Even though her dress was a lot simpler than the ones she used to wear in the palace, her royal glow and elegance still shined brightly.

"I don't like seeing your faces so let's keep this short," Nia Moonchester said, her b*tchy attitude remained despite being stripped-off of her princess title. "What do you want with me?"

Tilly smiled, then she snapped her fingers– making time stop in the prayer room.

Yep, that was one thing that she also learned from Solaris's Spartan training. She went through all the blood, sweat, and tears involved in mastering Soleil Rosenberg's techniques. Ah, right. She couldn't get over the fact that Soleil Rosenberg was so OP in the past but still let her husband become her downfall.

Tsk, tsk, I'm still disappointed in my previous self.

Anyway…

"Hello, Nia Moonchester," Tilly greeted her with a sweet smile. "I have an offer that you can't and shouldn't resist."

***

PS: You may send gifts if you can. Thank you~

***

[NOTE: Please ADD my story in your LIBRARY so you can be notified when I post an update. Thank you! :>]