A couple of minutes pass before a voice calls out, “Next! Who’s next?!”
“It is Hera of the Liddicoat Kingdom,” I answer.
“You plan to become a citizen here?” A young man asks with suspicion in his eyes. “Tired of all the vampires there?”
“Yes, and maybe,” I answer.
“What kind of spell do you use?”
“Mostly elemental spells. Potions.”
“How about combat?”
“Not much.”
“What do you mean by ‘not much’? You’re not even carrying any magical weapons!” The guy rolls his eyes and takes notes down on his sheet of paper. “I will let you join, but are you really sure? It will be a crazy competition,” he warns. “You know how popular the Lycan king is. Most female mages want to be the new Luna.”
I nod, perfectly knowing how popular Gideon is. He is so popular, in fact, that he will cheat on a wife who’s done nothing but love and serve him.
“That’s why there is competition, right? To decide who deserves him.”
The man behind the table snickers, “Well, that is, if he will ever be at home for the new Luna.”
I frown. “What do you mean?”
Gideon is a lazy man. He enjoys staying at home and drowning himself in all kinds of luxury and pleasure. The only thing he really ever loved, that is productive, is combat. He said it keeps him fit.
The man leans forward and says with a sly grin, “Well, you are from Liddicoat, so you still don’t know, but the Lycan king has been traveling for the past two years to search for his Lost Luna. You know, that plain-looking woman with massive magic and insane, god-like skills.”
“What woman?” I ask, pretending not to know.
“Luna Serra Lore-Dunkerson. Although, she’s Mage Serra now if she’s still alive. You might have difficulty earning the Lycan king’s love if he is still searching for his Lost Luna.”
“Oh,” I mutter. Thankfully, my glamour is of a different woman.
The other man on the table nudges him. “Stop that. You know how crazy the Lycan king gets when that mage becomes the topic.” He shifts his attention to me and warns, “He doesn’t believe that she’s dead so she’s looking for her. So, you be careful about discussing that too. Mage Serra is currently a hero in this kingdom. The Lycan king insisted on that.”
My frown deepens. Caius never told me about it. Besides, he is supposed to tell me everything about the Dunkerson kingdom! He left out this massive information from me!
And so, once I confirm that I am registered, I make my way toward the inn. There are a couple of inns in the town, but I know exactly where he is. The tiny crystal he gives me is a pair. He has one as well. It’s so we can communicate with each other anytime, including finding each other wherever we are.
I enter the inn and climb up the stairs. When I reach Caius’ room, I grab the doorknob and push it open. My lips turn up at the sight. Caius lies naked on top of the bed. He looks like some kind of ancient warrior god, both very handsome and muscular. And between his legs is the female server in the restaurant, her head bobbing up and down as she sucks on him.
The naked woman looks at me and shrieks. Caius props his arm up and looks at me. He sighs as he watches the woman hide her naked self. She frantically puts on clothes while pulling a blanket around her body.
“What are you doing here?” he asks.
“Ask your lover to leave the room,” I say. “We need to talk.”
“Can you please wait?” He points at his erect manhood and adds, “I am still enjoying myself.”
“No.”
Caius groans. He runs his fingers through his blonde hair and shifts his attention to the young woman. “Lydia, I am sorry, but you need to leave. I will find you tonight, then we can continue.”
The woman named Lydia nods, and she moves toward the door. Once it’s closed again, I activate my magic and create a sound barrier. That way, none of our conversations will get out of the room.
On the other hand, Caius gets up from the bed and takes his clothes. “What is this about, Serra?” he asks, annoyed. “You know exactly what I am to do when I invited that woman. I’ve told you multiple times to find lovers while we are traveling. That way you won’t disturb my fun times.”
I snort. “You forgot to mention that Gideon’s traveling to look for his Lost Luna, that is, he has been searching for me.”
Caius audibly groans as he turns his back on me and wears his clothes. “Why is it important? You think he’s fallen in love with you while you were gone? Just because he is searching everywhere for you? You never thought that maybe, he just plans to kill you this time? Or maybe, he lost his mage pet so he wants it back? Or maybe he realizes that he is insufficient without his mage with insane magic?”
I bristle in anger, “You promised you would tell me everything happening in that kingdom!”
He turns towards me and sits on the foot of his bed. “Look at you now. This is the reason I don’t want to tell you. Now that you know that he is looking for you, what will you do? Return to his loving arms?”
I glare at him. “So, you intentionally lied to me,” I accuse him.
“What do you expect me to say?” He rubs his forehead. “It means nothing.”
“It means that it will be easier to win him over once we reveal that I am his Lost Luna!”
“And then what?” he asks, crossing his legs. “Make you lax and believe he will really fall in love with you?”
“That is not—”
“Really, Serra? Just hearing about it, you come running here, even if you know exactly what I am doing with that young woman. You are already panicking at the thought that maybe there is a chance that he actually loves you.” Caius shakes his head and sighs. “If I told you, it would endanger our plans. That man will only love himself. Don’t make yourself believe otherwise. Or you will end up like last time.”
“You really are an asshole,” I mutter under my breath as my anger rises again.
He shrugs his shoulders. “I am just being honest with you. Besides, I am your only friend in this world, Serra. Even if, until now, you don’t believe it.”
“You are just like him!” I shout at him and run towards the door. I deactivate the sound barrier and slam the door in his face.
I stand in the center of the arena, surrounded by dozens of other competitors. I close my eyes and reminisce about the feeling of standing in this exact spot four years ago. Back when I was gullible and oblivious to the world. However, now, I don’t feel the same jitters and excitement. No more sense of anticipation and trepidation. I open my eyes. On the banners, on the stage in front of us, are the written words ‘Luna Festival Competition’, the same contest that will decide who will be the next Luna for the Lycan King. Then the announcer’s voice booms out from the loudspeakers, which echoes across the arena. “Welcome, audience, judges, and competitors, to the Luna Festival! This year’s competition will be even more spectacular than four years ago! You will be tested in every aspect of your knowledge and skills, from the warrior’s arena to the alchemist’s laboratory. But before we begin, let us remember why we are having this contest: to earn the right to be the next Luna who will s
There are only fifty remaining participants after the tool invention challenge, and the spectators cheer as usual. I glance around. Lycan King Gideon is in his assigned seat. He is as handsome as ever—dark hair, onyx eyes, and tanned skin—all features that make me so infatuated with him. He looks older now. However, that only makes him more handsome. His shoulders look broader, and he looks more muscular than before. I snort. I wonder who he is physically hurting with those arms and fists? He sits beside Queen Marinella, who seems happy to see her son early. Just the bare minimum, and she is already this happy. She really spoiled him rotten. And then I look at the five women seated behind him. Caius said those are the Lycan King’s current concubines whose only job is to bear him a child since the Luna seat is empty. Three of them are pregnant. He already made a couple of them pregnant, huh? ‘Such a loving husband you are, Gideon.’ Instead of wallowing in that thought, I look aroun
-- Gideon Dunkerson’s POV -- “Serra, my Luna…” I whisper with such heavy feelings. I have been searching for her for over a year. When I lost her, I lost it too. I didn’t know then that losing her would spiral me into an acute grief that would render me invalid. It was not until an old monk suggested traveling and getting away from the place we’d been together that I was able to stand up on my feet again. No, not stand up, but crawl and try to survive. However, it teaches me sympathy, and I gain the courage to search for her. “I didn’t want to be the same average-looking Luna,” she starts, her voice soft. She is what I remembered her to be. “Yet you deny that to me as well.” “I am sorry,” I whisper, and I can’t help but reach up to her cheeks. I caress them, not quite believing that she’s back. Every time I dream, it’s her face that I see. “You really are back….” “Can you still take me as your Luna? Even if I lied? Even if I used glamour to hide myself?” “Oh, Serra,” I whisper. S
My dreams have always been about the pain of my years of training. I spent an entire year in the Liddicoat’s family house. It is where their family library stands, underneath that big, old house. And there, I scour ancient tomes and scrolls, learning more spells that might come in handy when my quest for revenge starts. In my dream, my fingers will dance over different parchments, tracing the arcane symbols and incantations of long-lost spells. Caius also provided me with seers, monks and alchemists. And because they are being blackmailed by the vampire prince, they are forced to share their techniques with me — all poultices, elixirs and enchantments. But handy techniques and skills are not the only things I peruse. I also worked on my skills of using powerful and potent spells, like that powerful sleeping spell. ‘Revenge is worth any price,’ I will say to motivate myself, when things have become so hard. And then, my dream will transport to an island, where I spent another year o
If Gideon is really serious about treating me well, sending his concubines away is the bare minimum. I know that now, but if I were the same Serra as before, this piece of news would have made me very happy. But now, it did nothing to quell my need for revenge. “Children, huh...” I whisper. “We don’t have one...” “We can have one, if you like.” He kneels before me and takes my hands in his again. “When I lost you, I needed to sire heirs, but now that you’re back, we can try again.” It was not so long ago that I was desperate for a child, but now, every thought of it fills me with hatred, remembering how the child in my belly died due to all the stress and pain of being his wife. “I can’t, right now,” I answer in a small voice. “I don’t want my child to get embroiled in an inheritance war, especially with all your other concubines...” He squeezes my hand. “They won’t be!” ‘They?’ Don’t tell me he plans to have more than one child with me?! The thought alone repulses me! “Only you
Gideon’s voice breaks me out of my trance and I glance up at him with a small smile. “Thank you, Gideon,” I say. Queen Marinella looks between the two of us with a doubtful expression on her face. “It seems like there is more to your story than meets the eye.” Gideon chuckles lightly and reaches for his glass of wine. “There’s nothing more to say, mother,” he says smoothly. But Queen Marinella doesn’t look convinced. “Well then, how about we play a little game?” she suggests. I feel a knot form in my stomach as I turn to look at her. What kind of game is she talking about? And why does it sound so ominous? “What kind of game?” Gideon asks. “A truth or dare game,” Queen Marinella declares, her eyes still fixed on mine. The thought of the childish game almost makes my heart leap — that is, in its stupidity. Was I really this gullible that she thinks I will reveal all my secrets in such a foolish game? “Okay…” I answer, as soft as possible. Queen Marinella claps her hands togethe
I roam the once-familiar corridors and grand halls of the palace. Gideon has sent me an assistant named Claire. She is mid-thirties and is supposed to help me acclimatize to the castle’s inner workings. This castle, the same place where I felt both unimaginable happiness and pain, will be mine soon — or sold, or destroyed. Anything. As long as in the end, Gideon and his family will live like slaves amidst every piece of rock and stone of this castle. As I pass through the different offices and rooms, Gideon’s closest kin watch me as if I am some kind of apparition. Their glances are a mix of curiosity and disdain. Claire then leads me into a room filled with luxurious furniture and paintings adorning the walls. “This is where the King and his Council members hold important meetings and negotiations,” she explains, gesturing towards a large mahogany table in the center of the room. I nod, taking it all in. “These paintings weren’t here before,” I say, pointing at one depicting a ster
-- Gideon Dunkerson’s POV -- The great dining hall of Dunkerson castle was ablaze with the warmth of firelight. I sit at the head of the oaken table, while both Queen Marinella, my mother, and Serra sit on both my side. My mother is telling tales about the valor of knights and cunning dragons. She looks bright as she continues to speak, but I know my mother. When Serra returned, she had already raised her worries to me. She fears that Serra might have another agenda. I pushed it aside. Serra is nothing like that. She’s the type to get tired of politics. Petty schemes are not really her forte. Serra is bright, but the type of straightforward smart who works diligently and focuses on the things they excel at. For her, it’s her master-level skills in magic. Some call it genius-level though. “Gideon, isn’t that right?” My mother’s voice pulls me back into the conversation. “Hmmm?” I answer my mother. I have been gazing for far too long at Serra, but I still didn’t shift my attention.