Astrana's POV:

In the royal kitchen:

He seems highly focused. My brother fiddles with a cup looking at the instructions from a book. "Hm… what does this mean?" He mutters to himself with a raised eyebrow. He's actually attempting to make that beverage?

(Flash):

She crosses her arms. "Hmph, I'm asking you for a teeny tiny favor, and yet you keep denying me." Tears prickle in her eyes. "You don't love me anymore!"

His eyes widen in panic as he wipes her tears frantically. "Ok ok, no tears. If you want me to make it for you," He turns to his butler. "Waltari, may you lead me to the kitchen?"

His jaw hangs open slightly. "Your Highness, you're not actually considering…"

As if she planned this to happen, my friend sobs harder as he pats her back. "It's not like I have a choice in the matter."

My brother looks at her. "That's enough crying ok?"

She sniffles. "You're making the beverage for me?"

"Yep."

Her face lights up. All traces of tears were gone as she gives him a lingering kiss on the cheek. "You're the best!"

(Flash)

"Your Highness,"

He puts up a hand to silence her. "I will not get beaten by a book!"

My hand covers my mouth to stifle a laugh. Hahaha! It's just a book filled with recipes. Who knew this can triumph him?

"Your Highness, I think you should let me do this."

"Nope. I got this."

She laughs. "Are you doing this for Lady Liliana?" She cups her face with a smile. "That's so sweet!"

My brother blinks and looks away from the book. "Perhaps." Perhaps…? Does that mean he's doing this for her and not because of force?

"But," His eyes narrow. "I will not get beaten by a book of recipes!"

Ah… competitive as usual. Only this time, he's fighting against an inanimate object.

The cooks notice me as their eyes widen. I made a shushing motion as they bow and left and kitchen. "This isn't so hard."

"Of course, it isn't hard." His eyes widen as he spins around.

"Astrana, when did you get here?"

"I've been here, Lucky." I glance over his shoulder. "Need any help?"

He rolls his eyes. "No need but thanks."

My hand pokes his cheek as he assembles the drink. "Are you doing this because your fiancée wants you to make it?" I ask innocently as he stops and glances at me.

"Nope."

"Oh?" I place a hand under my chin. "Then why else?"

He blinks blankly and stays quiet for a moment. 90% he's doing it because she asked him to. That proves that he still cares for her despite not remembering anything.

"For the experience." He finally said and starts putting ice in the shaker. Experience?

"Whatcha mean by that?"

"If I learn to make this, I would gain another skill set that could be of use later on." I guess that makes sense.

"And… done."

Well… it sure looks delicious. I gulp licking my lips a bit. "It looks good."

He nods with a smile. "Correct, it does look aesthetically pleasing."

I'm sure that she doesn't mind if I take a sip right? I reach for the cup as he swats my hand away. "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."

"But it looks so pretty," I swing his arm back and forth. "Just a tiny sip won't hurt right?"

"No," He picks it up cautiously. "This is for Liliana."

"I know but a tiny sip won't hurt, right?"

"If you want, I can make this again."

Hm… got to find a way to drink that drink! But how… My eyes widen as I notice three guys walking towards us. Ah-ha!

"Astral, Astrana," Zach said as my brother turns towards the three of them leaving the drink unattended on the table. Yes!

"Hey, you three."

"How's her beverage coming along?" Derek asks as my brother smiles.

Time for a taste test! As I lift the cup to my nose, a slight vanilla scent makes my eyes widen. I carefully sipped the drink as my tastebuds explode into pure bliss. The sweet vanilla in combination with the mellow and creamy texture of it is enough for me to gulp down that drink. Couple that with green apple-flavored jelly, it enhances the flavor astronomically! Oh my gosh… this beverage is divine! I have never tasted anything so delicious!

"I just got done with…" The three of them look at me with emotionless expressions as I gulp down the drink as fast as I can. I can drink this all day! Is there potato in here?

"Astrana!" My brother slides his hand down his face slowly with a groan. "I said that I was going to make you one, didn't I?"

"Yea, but," I shove the cup into his hands. "It's delicious. Try it."

He tilts his head. "Is it really good?"

"Mhm!" He takes a sip of it from the straw and his eyes widen. See? It's delicious!

"Not bad…" Not bad?! His palate is so hard to please.

My friend puts an arm around my shoulder. "Can I have a sip?"

My eyes narrow holding the drink close to my chest protectively. "No way!"

"Why?"

"It's mine."

"But, wasn't it Liliana's?"

"Regardless, it's now mine." They approach me as I inch back behind my brother. "And none of you can have it."

"Astrana, how is that fair? You let him have a sip-"

"I say you show favoritism."

They nod in agreement. "Most definitely."

"Favoritism? Well, of course, he's my older brother."

"Come on, a little sip won't hurt."

"Back away, Derek."

"I want a sip!"

"Lucky, help me!"

He sighs using his powers to summon up three more versions of the beverage. "Here,"

"Yay!"

"You're the best!"

"It's delicious!"

"Wanna another sip, bro?" I hand him the drink as he chuckles.

"Mm… it's tasty." I stifle a giggle as I peck his cheek.

"Just tasty? Wow, you're hard to please."

"Hey!"

My eyes roll as I ruffle his hair. "I wonder how on earth your fiancée managed to please you when you're so hard to please," I mutter as his eyes widen.

"What do you mean by that?"

I blink at him in shock. Can he really be that innocent after losing his memory? "You don't know what I mean?"

"No clue."

"Huh…" He's clueless.

Star's POV:

"How's bearing a child treating you?" I ask as my friends and I roam the halls.

She lets out a sigh. "It's… something."

"I'm assuming it's bad?" My friend asks as she shakes her head.

"It's not bad. Well, you know, minus the morning sickness and fatigue I have been feeling over the last couple of weeks that is."

I pat her shoulder. "Don't worry, once you get to the second trimester, week 13 to 26, nausea tends to settle down."

"I hope so or else my eating days will be over."

My friends stifle a laugh. "No matter how nauseous you are, you still have to eat."

"Yea, but that's the problem, if I can't stomach the food, then how do you expect me to eat it?" Good point. Hm…

"What are you three talking about?"

My friends and I curtesy. "Your Majesty,"

Her eyes widen as she immediately helped my friend up back the hand. "You're pregnant. From now on, no need to curtsey in front of anyone."

"But-"

"No buts." She holds her hands gently with a soft smile. "Your job now is to be careful and to take care of yourself."

My friend nods. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

She laughs a bit. "Goodness, you're about to get married to my son yet you are still being so formal."

My friend blinks blankly as all of us sigh. Seriously? So clueless. "Refer to me as my son refers to me as."

Her eyes widen. "Your Majesty, that would be highly disrespectful."

"You're bearing his child right now. Plus, you two are about to get married in less than a week. I think those conditions are valid to refer to me as mother."

Yep!

"But it still wouldn't be correct because your son and I are not yet married."

She also has a point.

The Queen smiles gently. "Luca and Carissa have raised such a respectful and beautiful daughter such as yourself."

"You're right, my wife."

We jump at the sudden noise as we notice her husband approach us. "Eliphas, I thought you were at a meeting."

"The meeting ended early so I decided to find you, my lovely wife."

Ah, love…

She giggles and directs her attention back to my friend. "Thank you, Your Majesties."

"Aw come on, you're about to get married to my son. Refer to me as father."

"But-"

"Now now, don't force her, Eliphas." The Queen states with a frown. "Looks like we don't have the luxury of being referred to as mother and father by our future daughter-in-law."

He raises a brow as she winks. Ohhhhh… so that's her plan. "You're right, my dear wife." He pulls her into a side embrace by the shoulders. "Looks like we will never be referred to as mother and father."

My friend looks like a total loss as she blinks at the scene before her. I bet she's thinking along the lines of 'Uh-oh, what do I do now?'

My hazel eyes friend nudges me. "What do you think she'll do?"

"It's hard to say but I think she'll cave in."

"Y-Your Majesties…"

"Look, she's still being so formal with us."

"Um… I-"

He sighs. "We just have to accept reality."

"But it's harsh!"

"I suppose it is."

"Mother, Father, are you alright?"

Their faces light up. "Did you just refer to us as Mother and Father?"

"Why would she refer to you two as Mother and Father?" My friend with mismatched eyes walks closer to us carrying a purple drink in his hand. Oooo! Is that the Taro Milk tea with green apple jelly? It looks appealing!

His parents frown with a sigh. "Oh, it's only you."

He raises a brow in confusion. "Huh?"

My friends and I stifle a laugh as they let out another sigh. I notice each of them had a cup filled with the same purple coloring. Is that…

"Yea, he made us the drinks."

"Can I have a sip?"

"Of course," His sister hands the cup to me as my friend and I take turns sipping the drink. Our eyes widen.

"Oh my god! How can a drink be this good?"

"Good isn't the word for it. It's delicious!"

"I know right?"

I could drink this all day!

She swats my hand off. "Too much."

"But Astrana…"

"Maria, Star," My friend calls as he summons up two more versions of the drink. "Drink up."

Yes!

My hazel-eyed friend blinks at him for a second. Her expression transforms into a huge grin as she hugs him tightly catching him by surprise. "You're the best!"

He pats her back with a chuckle. "I know right? I'm the best!"

She giggles pecking his cheek as his eyes widen and stare at her dumbfounded. "Why'd you do that?"

Seriously? He's asking her that? "You were right about him being clueless."

"Aren't I always?"

She ruffles his hair playfully. "I'm your friend."

He blinks as his lips curve upwards. "Mhm."

Maria's POV:

"Honey, where's my-"

"It's right here." He interrupts as he hands her the drink. "And before you say anything, I made it myself with no help or the use of my powers."

His sister nods. "He's right. I was there and I saw him making this without any help."

His fiancée looks at him with a smile. "Thank you, my love."

"You're welcome."

"Your Majesties!" A butler rushes towards them kneeling looking in a panic.

"Walter, what is it?"

"A woman has collapsed outside the palace gates!"

Our eyes widen. Why? What happened? "Take us there immediately."

"Walter, is it?" My friend asks as the butler turns to him.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"Describe her appearance."

Why would he ask that? "I only caught a glimpse but she has light brown hair."

"Light brown hair…" His face slowly transforms from a neutral expression to a look of realization. Why does he look like that?

"Honey?"

"No way… it can't be…" He mutters as we reach the palace gates.

A gasp escapes my lips as an 18-year-old girl lays there near the gates all bloody with bruises on her arms. What on earth? Who did this to her?

"Estrella," My friend immediately scoops her up in his arms. "Wake up!" Estrella? He knows her?

"Wake up!"

Dark green eyes meet his as she lays a hand on his cheek. "Astral, I found… you…"

Her eyes snap shut as he shakes her violently. "Estrella, wake up!"

"Wake up!"

"Why are you just standing there? Someone call the doctor ASAP."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The butler was about to leave when he stops him. "Wait,"

"Bring her father, Duke Thesion, to me." Her dad? Why?

"Um…" He glances at The King and Queen as they nod. "Yes, Your Highness."

"Shit! Her father went too far this time!" His eyes shine with the anger of a thousand suns as he walks back into the palace with her unconscious body in his arms. What did he mean by that?

Our eyes widen as we glance at each other. "Did he just curse?"

"I think he did." His sister exclaims in disbelief.

His fiancée follows him as he kicks the door down in anger and gently lays the girl down on the guest bed.

"I have never heard him use such language before…"

"Me neither," Zach said with a slight shiver.

"He must be really angry to break one of the rules," Derek said as we nod. Yea, just look at his eyes.

"It's against the rules to use vulgar language?"

"Yup. The people of royal status shall not curse under any circumstances."

"Or else what?"

We glance at his parents. Hopefully, his punishment won't be too severe.

"Son," The King said sternly. "You know what happens when you use vulgar language."

His mother places a hand on his arm. "Honey, he probably has a good reason."

"Astral, explain this." His fiancée demanded as my friend clutch his head with a sigh. How on earth do you know her? Just what happened?