No one knows this, but Kai has been crying in his bed for two hours. A letter came to him from Cress, the head thaumaturge, inviting him to come to the annual Lunar Ball, celebrating the 1184th anniversary of people living on Luna. The mere thought of being in the same room as Cinder again would have enough power to chop him into little bits and pieces. Kai never was fond of Thorne, but ever since he stole Cinder from him, he despises him as much as he hated Levana. That one day, when Levana laid on the marble flooring of the Lunar throne room, life no longer in her body, was the day Kai had asked Cinder to be his. He got down on one knee, holding her cyborg hand, cool metal against his warm flesh. Kai enjoyed the feeling, hoping it would last forever. But Cinder pulled away, leaving Kai confused. She apologized only once, saying that it isn't right for her to be with him. Then she walked away… right into Thorne's embrace. Kai was able to see the hurt in Cress's eyes as well. There was as much pain in her eyes as there were in his. But there's always been that one question that he and Cress had always shared.
Why?
A knock on his door shot him up, wiping the tears out of his eyes as swiftly as possible. He looked in his reflection, looking at his pink and puffy eyes. They weren't too bad, so he can just say he was staring into space and his eyes started to water. But who could be knocking on his door? Torin was to go meet Queen Camilla today, and no one was allowed to enter without Nainsi asking permission for her and the guest to enter.
He opened his door hesitantly, and a woman with flaming red hair, a man with glowing green eyes, and a short girl with red hair and green eyes, probably their child, were standing close together, smiling like they've met him before. Wait… he has seen them before. The man was the hybrid that would mope around the Rampion over a girl six years ago, when he and Cinder were traveling. The woman was the eighteen year old farm girl who was held captive by Levana. And the little girl must be… their child?
"Hello again, Emperor Kai," the red head woman took a bow, and she nudged the man and the little girl to do the same. The man of course, grunted like a little child being forced to eat his vegetables, but bowed anyway. The child curtsied, like a little princess. Kai had to admit, she was pretty adorable.
"I'm not sure if you remember us, but I'm Scarlet Kesley, also used to be known as Scarlet Benoit. This is my husband, Ze'ev Kesley, he was called Wolf." The woman seemed so calm, unlike other citizens. Then again, she doesn't look like she's from around here at all. She looks french. Why would a french woman by in the Eastern Commonwealth? Kai decided to let that slide, remembering his manners.
"Of course! Scarlet and Wolf! It's been a long time. And who might this little one be?" Kai asked, bending over to look at the girl who looked so much like her mother and father.
"I'm Ruby Anne Kesley! This is my mommy and daddy, and my favorite aunt is Cress Darnel. We came here to take you to Luna!" The little girl blurted out. Wolf picked her up and shushed her playfully, looking a little less scary. But the only thing that caught Kai's attention was Ruby saying that they're taking him to Luna. The place where Cinder was getting married to that disgusting Carswell Thorne. And where did they get the idea to bring him all the way to Luna without notifying him ahead of time?
"May I ask why you are taking me to Luna? And more importantly, why are you taking me two months earlier than the actual wedding date?" Kai asked, already thinking that Wolf is going to make him go one way or another. Scarlet let out an exasperated sigh.
"May we come in? We came all the way from France and I don't really want to keep standing to explain this."
Kai didn't have any choice but to let them in of course. They've come from such a long way and he would feel the same if they had to keep standing in front of someone's room to explain to them why they came there in the first place. Scarlet put Ruby on her lap, but Wolf remained standing, in a position that makes it seem like he's more of Scarlet and Ruby's bodyguard than a husband and father. Kai sat down on his father's chair, and waited for someone to start talking. Scarlet is the first to open her mouth.
"You are, of course, heartbroken that Cinder is marrying another man. And not only that, but she's marrying Carswell Thorne," she said. Kai already wanted to throw something out a window. He knows he's hurt, but he doesn't need anyone reminding him.
"And do you remember Crescent Darnel?"
Kai nodded, still not knowing where this is going. "Well, she is not doing too good, and I'm afraid that my comfort is not going to be the only thing that would make her feel better."
Kai looked skeptical, but Scarlet didn't seem to notice so she continued. "She needs someone to know how she feels. The love of her life is marrying someone else. And that someone else is the love of your life. It is so obvious that you two know how each other feel. I would be very surprised if you didn't. Anyway, we feel like you two need to talk to each other, and realize that you two expressing your feelings to one another would take you a step further into recovering from the wedding after it has been taken place. So Emperor Kai, would you do the honor of coming to Luna with us?"
Kai wanted to say no. No, no, no. He will not be able to stand seeing Cinder in the arms of Thorne. But the only thing changing his mind is Cress. She knows exactly how he feels. Maybe even worse since she actually lives on Luna. He really does need someone to talk to. To express his feelings to someone who gets him. But why did she have to be on Luna? Oh goodness, I'm going to regret this, aren't I? Kai thought. He let out a huge sigh. The Kesley family stared at him, waiting for an answer.
"I accept your offer for taking me to Luna to meet Crescent. We shall leave in three hours, and until then, Nainsi will take you and your daughter on a tour of the Eastern Commonwealth Palace." Kai smiled. Ruby squealed excitedly and hopped off of Scarlet's lap, tugging on her arm to get up. On que, Nainsi came rushing into Kai's room, taking Wolf, Scarlet, and the chattering Ruby out of the room and into the West hall.
As Kai shut his door, he stared at the wall, processing to what he just agreed to. He will be going to Luna. Not for the Lunar Ball, not for the wedding, and not for Cinder. For Cress, and for him. It's about time he speaks to someone about what he has been feeling for three years, and he intends to finally feel better.
Kai packed all of the things he will need for two months, and he had already commed Torin, telling him to meet him on Luna once he is done talking to Queen Camilla. Scarlet, Wolf, and Ruby took him to their hovercraft, and now he's sitting in the back seat, talking with the young Ruby. She seems so adorable and pure. She has nothing in common with Scarlet or Wolf except for the appearance. The time passed so quickly, and as he looked out the window, Kai could see moon rocks and craters. And there was the dome that the royalty lives in. Scarlet headed in that direction. And for the whole trip, Kai kept thinking to himself:
Why does it have to be Luna?
