"What have I done?" Endymion scurried away from her in shock. "Serenity..."
Serenity gathered the sheets and wrapped it protectively around her naked form. "I hope that pleases you. I'll be on my way," she said heartbrokenly.
Wiping tears from her cheeks, she got up to leave. A hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her back into his arms. She was too tired to fight, and the soreness between her legs makes it hard for her to squirm. He hugged her to him apologetically.
"Please… forgive me." His watery eyes bore into hers. "I know it's impossible after what I have done, but I can't let you go. You mean the world to me," he whispered.
"Forgive me if I don't believe you," she answered as more tears spilled from her cerulean eyes.
He tenderly kissed her tears. "Please let me explain," he lifted her chin up to look at him, "I walked by your room a few days ago and heard two people in the throes of passion. He called your name and I got a glimpse of your beautiful silvery hair. I was a fool for not confronting the two imposters. I let my pride got to me, and look where it has gotten me. Tricked into casting away and hurting the only woman I have ever loved."
"You don't believe in true love," she tried to reason, mostly with herself.
"No, I hadn't. But then you appeared. You were so beautiful inside and out, everything and everyone you touch comes to life. I have never wanted so much to make someone happy before. And god, I'm so terribly flawed. When I thought you let another man touch you… my jealousy overcame me. Serenity… just give me a second chance… please… I'll do anything"
"It's too late Endymion… we had an agreement. I have honored my part, perhaps now you should honor yours," she knew her words were cold, but she couldn't bring herself to trust him again. Even if his words were true, their relationship was beyond repair. He had not trusted her in the first place.
After washing away Endymion's traces on her, Serenity went to pack away the rest of her things. She picked up the kite that Endymion had gotten for her on their first trip outside the castle. She remembered when he had painted the letters E and S on the kite. Hesitantly, she decided to keep this last remnant of memory.
She intended to leave immediately that night. Her heart felt heavy and she wants nothing more than to get away. Serenity knew from the beginning that it was dangerous to invest her heart on someone like Endymion. A few weeks ago, she had given up on her plan to seduce the prince and thereby earning her freedom. Instead, she has resolved on staying at the castle for the rest of her life as Endymion's companion and nothing more. That way, she reasoned that she can be near him without being hurt. She was so wrong. Everything that can go wrong did, and in the end, she was still hurt because she couldn't prevent herself from falling in love with the prince.
"Please let me go with you Miss. I can help take care of you. It's dangerous out there with your looks. Anything can happen to you," pleaded Sarah.
"Oh Sarah, I don't want to burden you. I can take care of myself." Serenity assured her.
"Sarah is right; it's too dangerous outside. People will take advantage of your beauty." Endymion stepped into her room.
"I believe you have already done that part, prince," she snapped. Her words tug at his guilty conscience.
"Please stay a few more days before we can find proper accommodations for you," he pleaded.
"I rather fend for myself, if you don't mind," she ignored his proposal. Her heart was beating fast and she finds it nerve-wrecking to be near him when her inside is battling to run back into his arms.
"Serenity… what is that crescent moon above your forehead. I've never seen it before," he observed.
Serenity gasped at the sight of the crescent moon on her forehead, just then Malachite rushed in.
"Your highness! Something came up; Mistress Serenity must not leave the kingdom!" He intervened.
"What is it Malachite? You can say it here," urged Endymion.
"We have reasons to believe Mistress Serenity is the lost princess of the moon. Right before his death a month ago, her uncle confessed to kidnapping the princess during her infancy out of spite for the lunarian queen. The queen knows of this and has sent troops to find the missing princess. They traced her disappearance to our bargain and the queen demands her daughter back," he told.
Both Endymion and Serenity gasped at the information.
"I'm the moon princess?" Serenity couldn't believe her ears. Endymion paused to absorb the information.
"I assume the queen knows that Serenity was declared my Mistress. How does she feel about that? It will not do our people good to ruin relations with the moon." Endymion reasoned.
"The lunarian queen was comforted for the most part that the princess was not sold into prostitution. I believe her dearest friend, the queen of earth, is helping to assuage the situation."
"I'm glad mother is keeping her company. Send them a message that on the morrow I will personally escort the moon princess back to the moon kingdom," he ordered.
"Will do your highness," said Malachite.
"Also, please invalidate Mistress Beryl, Ann, and Flora's title as Mistresses and prepare them a large sum of money each upon their exit from the kingdom." He decided. Serenity's eyes widen.
Malachite nodded and exited Serenity's room. Endymion turned towards her.
"This must be a lot to take in for you."
"I still have a mother…" It was all she could think of.
"Yes you do. And you have a beautiful future ahead of you. You'll be safe and loved by your mother and your people. That's all I can ever ask for you, my love," he tried to hold her gaze. Serenity bit her lips softly, not wanting to feel the pain of his loss.
"Just know that I'll miss you for the rest of my life." He whispers.
Endymion stared longingly at the beautiful lunarian princess as he witness her running into the arms of the Moon queen. It was no doubt that she was the moon princess for Serenity is the spitting image of her mother. Their affectionate reunion tugged at his heart. He was happy for her, yet at the same time an immense feeling of loss swept over him and he begins to despair.
"Thank you Prince Endymion for returning my daughter," said the moon. "It's been my pleasure your highness. I cannot wish anything more for Serenity," he said softly. The queen gazed from the prince to her daughter, and noticed a certain chemistry between them. While their eyes averted each other, stolen glances were taken when either believed the other was not looking.
"I assume you would want to visit your mother queen Gaia? She is in the main dining hall and awaiting us for the feast I have arranged to welcome back my daughter and her savior. Please join us," she invited.
"Prince Endymion, may I boldly ask you a question?" inquired the queen back in her private meeting quarters the next day. Queen Gaia is also present. There was much to discuss between the two kingdoms.
"Anything my queen," replied the prince.
"I have heard that you taken my daughter as a mistress. Are the rumors true?"
He hesitated before replying, "Yes, the rumors are true." Gaia frown knowing there was nothing to have stopped her son. He always gets what he wants.
"I guess there is only one question left. Are you in love with her?" She probed the handsome prince.
"With all my heart, but I'm afraid Serenity does not feel the same way," he confessed.
The two queens let out a sigh of relief, glad that Endymion is not toying with the princess.
Finally the Queen Selenity spoke after much ruminating, "I need to be honest. Serenity is in jeopardy of a royal scandal. Once the entire kingdom sees her, there will be much disapproving…"
"I don't understand what you're saying," puzzled the prince.
"The crescent mark on her forehead marks her coming of age. It's a rite of passage. In most cases once a marriage is consummated, the female will develop a crescent on her forehead to signify the end of her maidenhood." She explained.
Endymion pondered her meaning.
"So the nation will know that she has lost her virginity, which of course is my fault. Is this what you're afraid of? That they'll think she is a loose woman unfit to rule the moon kingdom?" the realization dawn on him.
"I'm afraid so. We cannot proclaim the princess until her hand is promised," she confided.
"If that is the case, I here request for Serenity's hand in marriage," he said without hesitation. Part of him feel elated to selfishly keep her by his side.
"That is not necessary for you two have been betrothed at birth," she stated much to his shock.