Astarte’s PoV:

>> I’ve never felt being in love with someone else. I’ve always been asking myself: “What does love mean?” Why is it important to someone? How important love is to someone?

That certain question keeps hanging in my mind. The former Queen and my mother, Juno, never thought it that much. But I feel her warmth lingers. When she’s still alive, she always finds a way to look after me.

A young me before has been observing my mother works as a Queen for the Kingdom. Since my father perished, she has been the one ruled over on his reign.

She builds upfront demeanor to actively do the duties and make ends meet in our Kingdom. But I can sense that losing father is she heavily burdened.

Mother is strong-willed, but gentle and caring. She provides the attention I need despite of her being the Queen of this Kingdom. She also listens to my stories, and by the time I turned at the right age, she’s the one who introduces me to different nobles.

I don’t understand at all. Why should I need to choose from them? Each Barons to Marquis, to Dukes of this Kingdom, they always give me presents and great impressions.

Though I appreciate all of their efforts, what makes it strange for me is the affection to them. I feel happy whenever we exchange casual talks, spending time together idling and talking nonsense.

Yet, I feel there’s a hole inside me. I feel null from my suitors. Like there’s lacking from them. I can’t figure out what that is... I don’t understand.

Sometimes, I thought that there must be something strange at me.

I thought first, that I might be attracted to same gender. I asked secretly some of my servants to sneak into my chamber. Though, we never exchange body contacts, through talking like I always do with the nobles in my marriage interviews, that might spark something.

It did fail. I see women like myself as a fellow same gender. I never bear any special feelings for them. Even Abigor, my servant, whose always with me ever since.

I wonder, why is it that there’s nothing I feel about it? Mother’s constitution is getting deteriorated as days passed. I noticed it, since in the lineage of demons, once an offspring is born, the power of the parent will eventually passed.

And that should be the time I must find a King to be throned in this Kingdom.

Until...

That certain dream suddenly happens. An adult man suddenly appeared in my dream. He doesn’t resemble to a noble demon; he’s a mortal. His looks are quite average compared to those nobles I encountered.

But then...

The red string of fate attached to my pinky finger connecting towards him alarmed me. The first time I met him in my dream, my heart suddenly quivers.

My eyes can’t avert off of him; my body trembles out. My face feels hot, like something’s burning inside me. His voice twitches my ears; soothing like a cold water in the Winter Solstice.

His presence stuns me. I don’t know who that person is, but I want to see him soon. When will I be able to meet him? I want to see him. I want to know who he is...

And then, I recalled what my mother said before she passed... “—Choose the one your heart desires.”

Recalling it made my heart quiver out. The moment that man appeared before me made my heart yearn for him. His presence alone makes me comfort. And whenever I woke up, I feel a little disheartened, knowing that I can only see him again in my sleep.

That time, I never expected something... more of, like a miracle happen?

That certain day of my commemoration of birth, the mage summoned a familiar, supposedly, that turns into a fiasco.

But for me, it’s not a failure; it’s a failure success to reunite with the person I’ve been longing to see. That I never expect to happen. The red string of fate entwined us, bind together.

That certain dream I’ve been having, turns real. My heart filled with joy after meeting that person for the first time. Finally, the answer to my question, “What does love mean?” has been answered.

“I’ve finally found you, my King...”