A/N: Hi, it's me again! Thanks for your reviews STAG98 (I'm sorry for the confusion, but August is the headmaster), HRHCatherine (Thanks for your review. Hmmm, I think you've got one for this chapter! :D), and LadyHilariexxx (I wonder how this chapter answers your curiosity? HAHAHA, I must admit that you did have some wonderful guesses *Wink!*)
To all readers: Thank you for reading and hope you enjoy this update.
The sunlight filtered softly through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Erza, still a bit pale, smiled as Irene offered her a spoonful of the soup she had prepared. Gently wiping the child's lips as she ate the food, Irene couldn't help but smile and see the scarlet-haired child conscious again. The tranquil atmosphere around them was suddenly interrupted when they heard a knock on the door. A courtier cleared its throat and announced the king and queen's presence. Erza tried to rise into a sitting position, but Irene placed her hands on hers and gently urged her to lie back against the pillows she had arranged to support her reclining position. She set aside Erza's bowl and rose to her feet.
"It's okay, Erza. Just lie back," Irene reassured her.
After the doors to her chambers opened, it revealed Anna, standing with a black-haired man with a well-built figure who shared the exact semblance as Simon, her eyes glistening with tears of happiness as she rushed to Erza's side and enveloped her in a warm, tight embrace.
"My dear Erza! Good heavens, I am so happy to see you well." Anna exclaimed.
"Thank you, Auntie," Erza mumbled, feeling the warmth of Anna's hug.
"You are suffocating her," Irene commented as she watched Anna hugging Erza tightly.
Anna chuckled, reluctantly releasing her hold on the child.
"I can't help it," she said, smiling warmly at Erza. "I'm just glad she's well."
At that moment, the king cleared his throat, drawing their attention. Irene turned to face him as he stepped forward with a respectful nod.
"I must apologize for not being able to return earlier, Irene. If I had known that the Scarlet Moon was visiting the empire a month ago, I would have made arrangements to be here sooner."
"There's no need for apologies, Your Majesty. I understand how exhausting the diplomatic affairs with the other kingdoms." Irene shook her head.
"Even so, I am grateful that you have graced our kingdom with your presence once again. To show my gratitude and to celebrate Erza's recovery, I have a gift for her." He gestured, and a servant stepped forward, presenting a beautifully crafted fur coat.
"This coat is made from the finest material the Eastern Kingdom could ever offer, and upon hearing that you had visited with your daughter, I personally requested that this coat be tailored to suit Erza perfectly.
The room fell silent upon hearing the king mistook Erza for her daughter. Anna quickly cleared her throat, stepped forward, and snaked her arms on her husband. Not wanting to upset any parties, she thought of changing the conversation.
"What he means by daughter is that we are planning on having a daughter soon," she said. Her eyes twinkled with excitement, hoping to distract Erza's downcast face.
"Thank you for such a wonderful gift, Your Majesty!" Erza chuckled and turned to face the king and beamed.
Upon seeing Erza's smile, the king couldn't help but feel an arrow of cuteness striking his heart. The king glanced at Anna and leaned in closer to her.
"My wife is right; we really do need to make haste and have a daughter soon." The king nodded as he paused and continued. "And when Anna gives birth to a daughter, I will declare a whole month of holidays to celebrate her birth!"
Everyone burst into laughter at the king's words. Anna smiled, seeing Erza's face lighting up.
"Isn't it the crown prince's birthday in two days?" Irene cleared her throat and asked.
"Yes, indeed. I'm glad you remember my son's birthday, Irene." Anna answered.
A few moments later
"Are you feeling better now?" Juliet asked as she continued feeding Erza.
Erza nodded and looked at her sincerely. "Can I ask you something, Juliet?"
"Sure, what is it?" she answered.
"Please don't tell Lady Irene about this." She begged.
Juliet was taken aback by the child's request, but her conscience can't say no to her cute puppy eyes. She hesitantly acceded to the plea. Erza extended her little finger and asked her to seal their promise. Juliet chuckled at the childish act but complied with her request.
"Promise," she said, locking their little fingers.
"Do you think parents are always that happy when their children are born into this world, Juliet?" she asked, making Juliet retract her hand from Erza's small ones. She swallowed the lump in her throat and forced a smile.
"I think, yes. The birth of a child often brings extraordinary feelings of joy to parents. Their children would mean the world to them. Why do you ask?"
"I'm a little jealous," she admitted. Her gaze dropped to her hands, which were now clasped in her lap.
"A while ago, the king and queen were so eager to have a daughter. The king even said he'd throw a month-long celebration to celebrate his daughter's birth, but then here I am." She paused, swallowing the lump in her throat as her hands trembled in nervousness.
"My parents, the moment I was born into this world, they decided to d-discard me." She obviously stammered, her voice breaking in a strange pain and loneliness.
Juliet's heart ached at the sadness in Erza's voice. She reached out and gently placed a hand on the child's shoulder. She had no idea how to console the child as she experienced growing up in a nurturing family. It was unfathomable for her to think that a child at her age was worried about that. How can her parents abandon her? Juliet cleared her throat as she cheered her up, lifting her spirits.
"Maybe it's not like that, Erza. You're a wonderful child. Anyone in the world would be happy to have you as their daughter," Juliet said, rubbing her back and trying to console her trembling form. Erza's knuckles turned white, and she chuckled lightheartedly, trying to erase the hint of sorrow in her heart.
"That was just a fleeting thought. I was merely fascinated by the idea of children meaning the world to their parents." Erza paused as she relaxed her clasped hand, now staring at her reflection in the glass of milk before her.
"I truly hope that time will come and Lady Irene will be happy too." She smiled despite the pain reflecting in her eyes.
When they exited Irene's quarters, Anna turned to her and apologized.
"I must apologize for my husband's rudeness, Irene." Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment, and she glanced at him. The black-haired man blinked in confusion, his brows furrowing.
"Pardon?" he asked, genuinely puzzled. He had been courteous, or so he thought. Anna sighed, giving him a gentle but firm shove on the shoulder.
"You moron, Erza is not her daughter," she hissed under her breath as they walked through the palace's corridors.
Realization dawned on him, and his eyes widened. "Oh," he muttered, his face turning a shade of red. He turned back to Irene and bowed, vehemently asking for her forgiveness.
"I do not mean to offend the Scarlet Moon. I thought Erza was your daughter because of your striking resemblance." He further commented, making Anna glare at him. She knew Irene hated the idea of being mistaken for her mother; she glanced back at her friend and was surprised to see her stoic figure with a hint of satisfaction on her face. She blinked twice, trying to read her expression. Irene laughed softly, making Anna puzzled.
"It's quite all right, Your Majesty," Irene commented, making her cock her brows in disbelief.
Isn't this the very woman who had vehemently criticized her for mistaking Erza as her daughter? Did she not tell me that she's not a whore for bringing a fatherless child into the kingdom? Anna asked herself, confused about what happened to her friend.
"Did you ingest a magic potion, Irene? Are you unwell? Did you hit your head with something?" She asked, rushing to her side and checking her well-being.
"I am perfectly fine, Anna. Although I have a favor to ask you two, Your Majesties." Irene said in a serious tone.
Two days later
The grand chandeliers overhead cast a warm, golden glow, illuminating the grand hall of the kingdom. The buzzing chatter of the nobles was as frenzy and fresh as the aroma of rich foods and sweet desserts prepared for the occasion. Prying gazes watched each other with scrutiny as they longed to see which of them was worthy of gossip. Their whispered voices soon hushed as the doors at the far end of the hall swung open. The herald announced the arrival of the royal family, directing everyone's attention to the king and queen's arrival. The king wore a deep burgundy robe trimmed with gold, while Anna's elegant gown shimmered like stars. Following closely behind them was Simon, the main star of today's celebration.
"Hail to the sun and moons of Stella," the nobles bowed and curtsied.
The nobles lined up individually, each eager to present their gifts to the crown prince. The grand hall was filled with anticipation as each family presented their curated gift, hoping to win favor with the royal family. However, the prince seemed uninterested, his gaze distant as he accepted the offerings with a perfunctory nod. Moments later, the atmosphere in the hall shifted as the herald announced the presence of the archmage. The archmage, also known as the Silver Moon, approached the throne calmly and dignifiedly. He bowed as he greeted the royal family. His lips curled into a smile as the prince greeted him.
"Master, you came!" Simon noted.
"I cannot possibly miss this opportunity to greet my favorite student and the crown prince of the empire on the day of his birth. To show my gratitude, allow me to bestow you with a precious gift," he stated as he summoned a magic stone before them, its surface glimmering with an ethereal light.
Simon's eyes lit up with excitement at the sight of the stone. "Thank you, Master," he exclaimed, examining the mystical stone.
The nobles watched and whispered among themselves about the apparent closeness between the archmage and the prince. It's no secret the archmage holds the imperial family with utmost regard and loyalty. He had been a dutiful servant to the crown since the founding of the empire.
Their attention soon diverted when they had noted the conspicuous absence of the Scarlet Moon. She was the stark contrast of the Silver Moon himself, a woman who often neglects her imperial duties and disappears of her own volition. If she had not only contributed to the founding of the empire, they were practically sure she would no longer hold a high status in the empire, knowing her defiant nature was a threat to the crown itself. However, it was not long after that her absence was debunked when the grand doors of the halls were filled with buzz. The herald stood rigid as he had seen the Scarlet Moon. Her scarlet hair was a striking contrast against the ceremonial black cloak that she wore, lined with gold and silver, and beside her stood a little girl dressed in the same matching outfit. The herald, swallowing his nerves, struck the floor with his staff once more, the sound cutting through the ambient noise of the hall.
"The esteemed sage of the Scarlet Moon has arrived." The voice echoed, silencing their whispers at once.
The room fell into a stunned silence as their eyes were directed at the door. Belserion tightened his jaws at the sight of the scarlet-haired woman holding the same peculiar child's hands on hers. She rarely makes public appearances; if she does, she merely appears out of nowhere and disappears immediately after her business. The fact that she had followed the kingdom's customs is quite intriguing, and worst is that she had even allowed that little mortal to dress like her. What on earth has gotten into her lately? Is causing a ruckus about Jiemma not enough for her? He asked himself, remembering how he had labored to erase all traces of that incident.
The nobles' prolonged silence was soon broken as they saw the child that had been stirring the entire kingdom lately. Her striking figure was a miniature replica of the Scarlet Sage herself, with the same vivid scarlet hair and brown eyes but on a much smaller figure only on the sage's waistline. The resemblance was indeed uncanny and left them whispering that she was the love child they had been gossiping about for days.
Sensing their prying gazes, Erza's nervousness was palpable as she kept up with Irene's stride as they walked towards the throne. Her steps faltered, and she nearly tripped, but luckily, still clasping Irene's hands, she tightened her grasp on hers to prevent herself from falling. Seeing the child struggle, Irene didn't hesitate and scooped Erza up into her arms, holding her close.
"I'm sorry," Erza said as she leaned closer to Irene.
Gasps were heard across the halls; it was as if they were the main characters of today's event. The nobles' faces reflected their disbelief; the ruthless scarlet sage, known for her harshness, was seen acting tenderly towards her so-called illegitimate child. The sight was unprecedented, even for the royals to see. Irene cleared her throat as they neared the throne, gently lowering Erza back to her feet. The two of them bowed in perfect unison as they greeted the monarchs.
"Happy Birthday, Prince Simon," Erza greeted as she drew nearer.
Clutching behind her back, a small, neatly wrapped gift was handed to him. Erza bowed deeply before the prince as she retreated back to Irene's direction.
"I'm not sure if you'll like it, but I made it myself." She added as soon as she started seeing him unwrap the small gift.
He gasped in surprise; her gift turned out to be a beautifully embroidered handkerchief. The not-so-perfectly formed crest featuring the royal insignia with his first name on it made him smile. His gaze softened as he gently ran his fingers over the embroidery.
"This is beautiful as you are, Erza. Thank you," he said.
Erza's cheeks flushed with the sudden compliment. After giving her a present, the king stepped forward with a broad smile. He raised his glass and announced.
"It is a great pleasure for me to see such grandiose gestures from each family. Tonight, let us celebrate the birth of my son, the crown prince of the empire, Prince Simon, on this joyous occasion of his birthday!"
The room erupted in applause and cheers as the king acknowledged his son. Belserion, standing from afar, maintained his unreadable expression. His gaze fixated on Irene's figure, looking at the scarlet-haired child before her. His brows twitched, and when he saw the child grab the hem of her cloak, Irene immediately lifted her into her arms again. Did she not understand that showing the child to high society and in this event would result in a misunderstanding? They will, without a doubt, mistake her for her child. He sighed, knowing no wild winds could ever dissipate the candle of gossip among the nobles.
As the applause died down, it was now the queen's turn to rise. Anna stood gracefully and cleared her throat, and the room fell silent once more.
"I would like to take this moment to thank two figures who had significantly protected the kingdom for years. If it were not for their efforts, we would not be celebrating the birth of my son. Tonight, allow me to greet and thank the presence of the esteemed archmage of the Silver Moon," she began.
Hearing his title being mentioned, he quickly composed himself and directed his attention to the crowds as the queen spoke.
"On behalf of the royal family, I would like to congratulate him on the successful completion of the magical relations treaty with our neighboring kingdom."
He nodded and bowed to acknowledge the queen's words. He then raised his head and directed his attention back to Irene, knowing that the other person Anna was referring to was her. Anna then turned to face Irene.
"Furthermore, I must express how deeply blessed I feel to have my dear friend, Irene, with us tonight. Many of you must've known her contributions to our kingdom's freedom through the books, as she rarely shows her presence. After a decade, she had finally returned to share in our celebrations for the birth of my son,"
Anna swallowed the lump in her throat, her eyes locking onto the faces of the nobles as she gestured for Irene to speak. "And now, I invite Irene to make her announcement."
With Erza still in her arms, she lowered her gently and took a stepped forward. She took a deep breath, her eyes sweeping across the gathered crowd.
"Your Majesties, it is a great honor to stand before you tonight," Irene said after curtsying to her friend once more.
"I have returned not only to celebrate with you but to reaffirm my commitment and loyalty to this kingdom. My disappearance had stirred a lot of irrational speculations among the nobles, and to clear this misunderstanding, I am here to make a very important announcement."
Irene glanced back at Erza, her eyes filled with affection. With a subtle motion of her hand, she used her magic to lift Erza off the ground and bring her closer gently. The child closed her eyes in surprise as she floated through the air. She opened her eyes and found herself safely cradled in Irene's arms. Irene cleared her throat, directing the nobles' gazes on them.
"To end the baseless rumors, let me formally acknowledge the child here. Erza…" With a short pause, Irene looked at her as Erza looked up at Irene's face.
"She is my daughter, not by bond but by every blood and flesh running in her veins." She started looking earnestly at the child's puzzled face.
"Anyone who dares to harm my daughter will face severe consequences," she declared, her eyes sweeping over the crowd.
"I will protect her in the name of the honor of my family." She added as she directed her gaze, smirking at the sight of Belserion's palpable surprise.
A few moments later
The palace hallways were dimly lit, and the two shadows' footsteps echoed as they returned to their chambers. Erza, still feeling the lingering surprise from her announcement earlier, paused, causing Irene to halt and turn to face her. Irene's eyes softened as she looked at her daughter.
"Erza, is everything alright?"
Erza knew well that Irene had lied. I am such a burden. She thought to herself. She wasn't dense; she understood that Irene did it to protect her from the bullies, but she couldn't bring herself. She felt ashamed that she had caused Irene to go to such extreme lengths to protect her. She was even willing to lie in front of the nobles. Erza fumbled her fingers as she remembered everyone's astonishment at her announcement. Even Heine and Juliet cannot hide their surprise at their masters' words at the corner. Even though Erza couldn't deny the delight in her heart, she felt guilty for lavishing herself with the thought of being considered as Irene's daughter. Irene's lies comforted her, but she couldn't afford to think that she was compelled to make such a declaration out of obligation.
Still not answering her, Irene knelt to her height and finally saw Erza's trembling lips and tear-filled eyes under her scarlet bangs.
"Erza, what's wrong?" she asked gently, wiping the tears from Erza's cheeks.
"I-I'm sorry. It's because I'm such a weakling you're compelled to say that to protect me," Erza bit her bottom lip to prevent herself from shaking with sobs.
"Pardon? Did I shock you? I didn't mean to be selfish to say that you're my daughter without your permission. I'm sorry, Erza." Irene hastily explained as she slid her bangs to see her face, trying to look at her in the eyes.
Erza clasped the hem of her cloak and bawled, hearing Irene call her my daughter again. She tried to hold back her sobs, looking up at Irene. How can Lady Irene be sorry for calling me her daughter? I am the one being selfish here. Erza thought to herself as she felt her world became whole for a while.
"Look, no one compelled me to do that, but I did that because I do see you as my daughter," Irene stated, trying to console the child as she rubbed her back, but Erza burst into wails, making her nervous.
Erza found solace in Irene's lies. The thought of her finally accepting her as her daughter filled her with ecstasy. The joy she had experienced as she tasted the sweetest food in the empire did not even inch to her mirth. I don't care if it's a lie or not. I finally had a family. She thought to herself as she hugged her.
"I know I am asking too much, but can I be more selfish Lady Irene?" she asked as she let go of their hug.
"Can I call you Mommy?" Erza's voice pleaded before Irene could nod as an approval.
Irene's eyes widened, and the exact words that had once felt like knives stabbing her now felt sweet, filling her with a warmth she hadn't known she needed.
"Of course, Erza. Come here, my daughter," Irene said, opening her arms wide.
Erza's tears flowed even more freely as she flung herself into Irene's embrace, her small arms wrapping tightly around her. "Mommy," she cried, burying her face in Irene's shoulder.
Belserion watched from a distance. His black eyes darkened against the shadows, and a gnawing sense of fear surged to his entire body at the sight of Irene getting so attached to a child. Belserion turned abruptly and teleported himself to his quarters. The walls of the tower seemed like an ominous feeling, wrapping himself with a dark aura. With his frustration, he clicked his tongue, and all the floating books in the magic tower lost their magic and plunged the entire magic tower into darkness. He held his hand against his cloak to lessen its fidget. He sighed heavily as he looked in the window, staring directly at Irene's quarters. He closed his eyes as his thoughts drifted back to the event that had been haunting him.
Three decades ago
Belserion's eyes widened in shock as he felt the cold blade pierce his chest. Pain shot through his body, and he coughed up blood, tasting the metallic taste in his tongue. A malicious smile crept onto the long blue-haired man's face as he plunged the sword deeper, pinning him as he teleported them into the snowy mountains. Belserion grunted as he found himself collapsing into the snow. The cold seeped into his bones, and he could feel the pulsing blood seeping through his robes.
"Your love for your brother had outsmarted your own wits, brother." The towering figure said as he stepped on his body. His figure turned into a silhouette, and his breath came in ragged gasps as he lay there.
"This is where you die," his brother said before twisting the blade and disappearing, leaving Belserion to his dying fate.
"Damn you," he uttered with all his might as darkness began to encroach on his vision.
As he lay there, waiting for the end, another shadow suddenly loomed over him. The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the vivid scarlet hair of the figure before him.
When Belserion awoke, he was no longer in the snow. He was in a warm, dimly lit cave covered in thick makeshift blankets. He could hear the crackling of a fire nearby and feel its warmth spreading through his body. Confused, he tried to sit up, but pain shot through his chest, and he groaned.
"Do you really want to die?" asked the woman before him.
"Who… who are you?" he fiercely asked, not wanting to lower his guard.
"Ungrateful, aren't you?!" she glared, looking down at him.
He watched as the woman tended his wounds. She never answered him; instead, the days continued not knowing each other's name as she nursed him back to health. After a few more days, he finally regained his strength and asked her.
"I owe you my life. As a gratitude, I will grant any wish you have in exchange for saving me."
The scarlet-haired woman's eyes darkened. She paused for a moment before asking him again.
"Anything?" she confirmed as he nodded.
"Then, end my suffering," she said quietly as she smiled, summoning a dagger before his eyes.
Belserion's heart clenched at her words. The flames accentuated the sorrow reflecting in her eyes. He took a step back as she approached him, holding the dagger.
"Sages aren't allowed to kill themselves, so I can't end my suffering. So, to repay me for saving you, you must kill me."
"I can't do that," he said, firmly retracting from her direction.
She then sighed, reached for a small, worn cloth in the corner of the cave, and held it up for him to see.
"This belonged to my daughter," she said, her voice breaking in agony.
She kneeled and looked up at him, begging him as if he were a deity that could end her suffering.
"I killed her." She sobbed as she clutched the tiny garment to her chest. "Urgh, she was so small, so fragile,"
"So please, I know I'm asking too much, but end my suffering," she rose and handed him the dagger.
"Kill me," she begged as his trembling hands clasped the dagger.
Belserion tightened his grasp on the blade's hilt, his mind turning blank at the plea of the person before him. She fell to her knees in desperation. He raised the dagger and used his magic to turn it to dust before placing his hand on her head.
"I can't do it. I'm sorry, but you have to forget her." He said before channeling his magic on her, erasing all her memories of the child.
Present
Belserion burns the child's clothing that he had kept decades ago. Irene had long lost her will to live, and the thought of her getting attached to a daughter figure this time filled him with such dread of seeing her in such a desperate situation again. He stared at the ashes and stepped on it as he asked.
"Who exactly are you, Erza?"
A/N: Welp, we've got fluff, but we also have another sus. That's all for now, folks. Might update a few days later. I've got some things to do, but please leave some reviews! Am I asking too much? Hahaha, please share your thoughts, and I will see you in my next update.