Henry led me to a purely soundproof drawing room. Arriving there, I happened to meet for the first time the two chiefs of all of the divine priests and priestesses.
High Priest Redgrave, the chief of all the divine priests.
High Priestess Shea, the chief of all the divine priestesses.
“We greet the little sun, Crown Prince Henricus, and the future little moon, Crown Princess Dominixe,” they said in unison, bowing their heads before us.
I eyed them up and down, eyeing their vestments, especially on their purple stoles with imprinted golden lavender-shaped designs. They were even wearing turbans, indicating they were the divine temple chiefs.
“Greetings, Redgrave, Shea. It has been a while.” It was Henry who managed the talking.
“Indeed, Your Royal Highness.” It was Redgrave who answered. “Shea and I are really expecting to meet you, and of course…” he paused and glanced at me, bowing his head before me. “Crown Princess Dominixe.”
I almost squinted my eyes, noticing that it looked like he wanted to say something different, but he brazenly changed it. And why was he looking at me as if… we had met before?
“Have a seat then.” Henry ushered them to sit. He even sat beside me while sitting across them. “I heard that you were on your pilgrimage, Shea.”
Shea smiled, nodding. “Yes, Your Royal Highness. I am supposed to be far from the capital; however, I have received a message that I must return immediately.”
“A message? From your apprentice?”
“No, I was being summoned back by the Moon Goddess.”
I could have sworn I felt some bucket of ice pour at me. Even Henry did not expect that answer, seemingly how surprised he was at this moment.
“This means… our meeting is already predetermined?” I decided to speak now. “Is that right?” I asked to confirm, hearing how fast the beating of my heart was right now.
They both smiled, nodding. “Our meeting is bound to happen.”
I felt chills down my spine, the back of my nape standing up when they spoke together. They looked like one person if I came to focus my attention on them.
It looked as if their voices were combined, and it was almost near to a divine voice.
“And we also know what you need to know.”
“Ask them.” I snapped back when Henry nudged me. He nodded, urging me. He looked so patient when he saw that I was rendered speechless.
Gulping, my hands were fidgeting for some reason, but I mustered up some courage to open my mouth. “T-This is my second life. I was returned to the past to settle things so I could try to twist the fate of avoiding my mate being killed. But… I have been experiencing returning before the tragedy four times already.” I elaborated on the four events that happened. “What is the Moon Goddess’ purpose for me? I tried… I tried to save my mate, but he still ended up being killed… or at least tell me about Dameta? Who is she? And who is Niccolo?”
I was palpitating so wildly when I finished my words. I felt hyperventilating at this moment. I wanted to pass out when they only looked at me.
“Breathe, Domi.”
I nodded before my eyes filled with tears. “I just want to be with Valerian… I just want to be with him. I do not even know why I must be alive now. I lose my purpose… I lose the person I love the most… I was filled with sorrow and regretted not coming to save him… I even tried to end myself, but there would be someone who would intervene to stop me…”
That someone was Niccolo himself… I wanted to add.
“Didn’t you promise to yourself that you still have another purpose?”
Finally, one of them spoke. It was Shea, having an earnest expression.
I smiled bitterly. “I just let myself be Henry’s marionette until I bring down my household.”
I was planning that by the time we finished this task, I would volunteer myself to be executed if in case I was being spared by Henry. Henry might know this plan. I was expecting that he would halt my euthanasia plan.
They were enveloped with silence. Henry did not say anything, but he was undoubtedly observing everything.
He did not deny that I was just his mere puppet, nor did he agree.
Sighing, Redgrave and Shea exchanged glances. They knew that I was on my limit. I could see their hesitation.
“Just tell me what you know. Do not pity me. I am tired of receiving that.” I raised my head when Henry offered me a handkerchief. I murmured my thanks and accepted it. “I just want to know everything… I know you two can communicate with the Moon Goddess. She can hear me, right?” They had been staying silent, so I must coerce them to speak.
Redgrave closed his eyes for a moment. Shea heaved out a sigh.
“What we can only tell you…” My attention had been lifted when Redgrave spoke. “We cannot reveal everything since we do not want to disturb the laws of nature.”
“And why is that?” I was surprised when Henry and I spoke at the same time.
Shea clasped her hands. “Dameta is one of the daughters of the Moon Goddess, Your Royal Highnesses.” I inhaled sharply from her revelation. “The Moon Goddess revealed that Dameta is known as the Goddess of Time, having the abilities to accelerate or decelerate and freeze or unfreeze the time.”
Henry and I exchanged glances since his conclusion was right. At least we confirmed now that she was really one of the daughters of the Moon Goddess.
“Goddess Dameta must have pitied you at that time when she granted you a wish to return to the day when you want to correct everything.”
I creased my forehead, dumbfounded. “No… That is incorrect. I did not even wish for something. The rogue Alpha-I mean Niccolo is the one associating with her. It even looked like they had a pact at that time. I recalled the time when Niccolo said, “Dameta! You said that you could help me! Please help me here!””
Word for word.
I uttered them.
But it surprised me that I could still recall that memory when I had thought I had forgotten about it.
“Please explain that to me, sages of the Moon Goddess. And I remembered when he was calling her at that time. When she appeared, she looked like me.” That was when the two of them reacted as if that wasn’t right. “Why is that?”
My words earned them to silence. I was getting impatient as to how they were acting right now.
“I am not going to sit here and hear nothing from the two of you.” They were starting to get on my nerves.
“Redgrave. Shea.” Henry looked like he was losing his patience as well.
They averted their gazes. “We cannot reveal that part…” they said in unison. “This is something you should be able to discover on your own.”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked through gritted teeth. “You said that this meeting is predetermined. Don’t you think you two should have known what would happen? Do not give me some damn stupid answers because I am not in the best position to comprehend everything. I want simple answers!” I wanted to slam the coffee table before me, but I halted myself.
They exchanged glances again, which made me want to collide with them together. The bloodlust of slaughtering them was emitting, but I snapped back when Shea approached me and lowered her head.
Redgrave decided to speak. “We can only tell you that she and you are connected.”
“What?”
“Your path is connected to her, and Niccolo becomes the bridge as to why she is intervening.” It was Shea who spoke this time as she returned to he
“It will be a matter of time until everything is aligned,” they said in unison as if they could read each other’s minds. They even had the same nonchalant tone. “The hybrid has disturbed the laws of inertia and nature. A margin of error has occurred in this timeline, leaving some traces of disturbance that shall serve as an imbalance. That fruit shall cease to exist soon and must return to its original place.”
I was starting to get frightened by their words when they were saying things simultaneously. I clung to Henry’s tunic, wanting them to stop.
“The bridge is the key to unlocking the hybrid’s real ability. The fruit has caused a time paradox with the hybrid’s power. Everything is aligned. Everything is in a predestination state. The cycle will never end.” Then they pointed in our direction. “Time will come that the hybrid, the bridge, and the fruit shall know their existence to one another.”
Once they were finished, they collapsed in their seats as if they were drained from what they did while I was sitting there, not knowing how to react. I found myself having chills down my spine before I finally snapped back, seeing Henry checking them.
I lowered my eyes-in my hands that started to freeze me from this revelation. I couldn’t even utter a word as they excused themselves and left.
Henry was with me, testing the waters if I was going to respond to his question. “Should we return to the party, or should I bring you to your chambers?” he asked softly. “We can assess everything when you are feeling fine.”
I did not answer, still hearing those spine-chilling words echo in my mind.
How must I process everything?
“Let’s get you some rest.”
I nodded mindlessly. Henry sighed and took off his coat to place it over my shoulders.
We took strides to the hallways, hearing our heels clicking. For some reason, the feeling of being with a friend like Henry assured me that I was not alone.
“I shall summon someone to help you dress and bring you some warm milk.”
“I can manage…” I muttered when we reached my chamber. I even undid the ties of my dress, causing Henry to panic when he saw that I would undress.
“H-Hey! Could you not do that in front of me? You should have dignity-”
We were interrupted by some knocks on the door. Henry hastily opened the door as if he had been saved back then.
“Niccolo?” he parroted.
I glanced at the doorway seeing Niccolo, who looked surprised at me, almost undressing. Then his expression changed to a stoic one when he turned at Henry.
“N-No! It is not what you think! It-”
“My apologies for my interruption, Your Royal Highness,” Niccolo said coldly. “I should not have disturbed you. It is the insolence of me to disturb your business-”
Henry covered his mouth as if he were chuckling nervously. “No, no. Please. We are not doing anything. I promise! Let not Eustace know this…” he begged.
Sighing, I felt like my world was spinning. “Let him in and be my attendant here, Henry. Return now to the party before Eustace looks for your absence.”
I did not want to take more of his time. Henry had done so many things for me. I did not want to cause a misunderstanding between him and his mate when it was not my intention.
“A-Are you certain?” I nodded. “But I shall summon your personal maids. It is not wise to be with a man-”
“I am certain Niccolo does not see it that way. And I do not want some personal maids. Scoot now.” I pushed him away. “I am exhausted, so please excuse me now.”
In my peripheral vision, they exchanged glances before Niccolo bowed his head. “I shall handle it here.”
Henry, hearing him sigh, just nodded. “Fine. Be sure to attend to her needs. Or summon some royal guards if that is the case.”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”
Niccolo did not hesitate to welcome himself inside my chamber as soon as he left. “Please excuse me, Lady Dominixe. I shall help you as you wish.”
Not saying a thing, I stared back at the mirror, seeing how I looked deranged in my reflection. My eyes looked soulless, as if someone had sucked out my soul from my body. My lips were pursed into a thin line.
“I looked… dead,” I muttered when Niccolo helped me undress. “Is it fun to fool around with my second sister, Niccolo?” I asked, which caught him off guard.