The princess of Solarice ran around the place. Her butlers and maids struggled to keep her at bay. The prince, her fiancé, laughed at the sight. He always found her rambunctious behavior to be enchanting. Within the nobles and royals, such characteristics were seemingly obsolete.

"Julet," the prince called for his soon to be wife. "Please calm down a bit. Not everyone has your level of energy and enthusiasm."

Julet stopped in front of him. She wiped away a sweat bead on her forehead with the back of her hand. "Oh my dear future husband, Romero," she started with a teasing tone. "We have arms and legs. What use are they of we do not use them for such? These walls restrict our movement, so we must make the most of it!" And off she went before letting him respond.

Romero exhaled a laugh.

On the day of the news about the contest, Julet declined the invitation. This was surprising to Romero. He thought she would absolutely participate... even simply by the notion of it being held at the Capital City.

Apparently, she wanted to stay and be with him. Or so, that was her excuse.

For hours a day and sometimes through the night, she lived a loud life. Rarely was there a quiet moment ever since she came. And all this was her act to cover the fact that she was ill. She herself did not know her illness. All she knew was that the blight ran among her family for generations. Most of her family died relatively young. And so, they married young and had children young. Soon, it was her turn.

After the visitors had left, she climbed the watchtower. At the top was a room. A room big enough to be a bedroom. As such, she wanted to use it.

She spent the next months changing the space to her taste. The maids heaved a full-size mattress up the winding stairs. The butlers had to install a dumb waiter to deliver food without exhausting themselves. Just like she had told the visitors, the view was great. The rising sun was rejuvenating. Its warmth gave her energy to bother the people every day.

Then, one day, she didn't descend from the tower. Romero came up to check on her. Everything seemed fine since he found her sound asleep. Her eyes slowly opened as he tried to wake her. She gave a smile.

He expressed his worries. She reassured him otherwise. It was convincing when she was up and about the next day. But a week after, her presence was silent. She barely roamed the halls as much as before. Romero couldn't relax on her words alone. He kept an eye on her every move.

She became more bedridden as time passed.

"Don't be sad, my beloved Romero," Julet spoke with a frailty. Her complexion had dulled. She was pale as the moon that glossed over her hazel eyes. They glistened as if they held back her tears. She placed her hand upon his wet cheek. "I'd rather you smile on my last night."

"No," he sobbed. "This is not your last night." He gripped her hand and kissed it. "You have more. Many more."

Julet slipped her arm around his neck to pull him. He laid his head between hers and her shoulder. Like a coddled baby, he wept.

"Live your life to the fullest like I have mine," she breathed. A weak cough escaped her throat. "Smile for me."

Romero refused to face her. Despite that, she knew he was fighting for a smile, and that was all she needed. She closed her eyes for the last time with a smile on her face.

Romero felt her body grow cold. He only held on tighter to keep her warm. He knew but did not leave her.

~~~

Romero stood in a darkened room. In front of him was a tall mirror. Inside it was Julet. She stood with her eyes closed. Worried, Romero ran towards her, only to be stopped by the glass between them. He knocked on it gently, fearing it might break. Julet did not respond.

Then, he heard rapid tapping of footsteps and an echoing giggle. He turned around to see another Julet. She was awake. Her hazel eyes looked at him. A warm smile beckoned him towards her. He checked the mirror. That Julet was gone. And so, he went to the other Julet. He grabbed her hand in disbelief.

Suddenly, he woke.

Julet was not in bed. Frantically, Romero stood up to search for her. It was cut short when he saw her standing by the window. The morning sun shone on her eyes, coloring them golden.

"Did you have a nightmare?" She asked with a soft smile.

Romero staggered his way to her. He feared it was another dream. She didn't look frail nor ill. Her complexion was much better. Her red lips were full of life. Looking at her, he thought the moment was temporary. He was stuck in awe, relief, and bewilderment.

The trance broke as he heard the familiar clattering and chuckling sounds. He ran to the door.

Julet grabbed him by the wrist. "You seem distracted," she spoke. "Perhaps you may need more rest. It is still early morning."

His mind cleared. Only her presence mattered and nothing else. He nodded but refused to rest. He wanted to stay by her side.

The workers were surprised and joyful for her miraculous recovery. They even threw her a celebration. The day ended relatively quiet.

The week was also calm.

Romero tended his royal duties. The butlers and maid watched over Julet as they worked. Nothing seemed out of the usual until Romero overheard the workers' talk about Julet.

"Don't you think she has changed a bit?" One would say.

"More mature, I suppose," another would respond. "She acts like royalty. She barely runs and screams if at all anymore."

Romero took these assumptions into consideration as he spent a day with Julet.

He couldn't tell a difference. From head to toe, she was her. Her smile was the same. So, too, were her eyes. Even the way they coloured differently from the shine of the sun and moon.

"Would you like to have a race?" Romero teased Julet while they were eating dinner. "It has been a while."

Julet gave a smile. At that moment, Romero realized her eyes were different, not physically. The colours were the same. The way the light reflects was the same. They felt lifeless. They didn't smile when she did. The notion of her happiness and her content blinded him from seeing the true her, and that was simply it. She was not the Julet he knew.

"Yes, I supp-."

"No," Romero interrupted. "You're not her."

"What do you mean?" Julet responded, titling her head.

"Julet..." He uttered under his breath.

Then, he heard a pair of echoing giggles in the halls. He shot up his chair. Footsteps ran away from the scene. Romero chased them. The sounds led him to the tower. He slammed open the door.

Two children were in the room. One was on the windowsill, and the other was on the bed. Despite the different colours, they had similar attire. They wore a hooded poncho, giving them an overall form of a triangle. Long sleeves covered their hands and hovered just above the floor. The one on the window had the colour orange. His hair was short but still noticeably black. The one on the bed had the colour indigo. She had medium length white hair. Both of their trims were blue with the same lined patterns.

"Oh no," the one on the window gasped with false astonishment. "He found us." He placed his right hand over his mouth. The long orange sleeve hung down to his chest. A giggle escaped, shaking his entire body.

"Yes, I agree," the one on the bed breathed as she faced the pillows on the bed. "Our game was amusing." She placed her left hand over her mouth. Three decisive laughs came out. Her shoulders jerked with each release.

"You!" Romero growled. "You must be the cause of this! Where is Julet?" He took a step and stopped himself. He wasn't sure if the two were dangerous.

The orange did a spin and pointed at the other. The purple one hopped from the bed to the ground and made her way to Romero.

"Right here," she spoke. She grabbed his hand and dragged him to the bed. "She never left."

A sudden stench of rot stabbed Romero's nose. His body convulsed at the scent and sight. In the bed was a decaying body of a woman, of Julet. Most of the flesh were gone, but still enough to know it was her.

"What-"

"Romero," Julet called from behind him.

Her voice shook him. The dissonance of her voice and the sight of the decay sent his mind into chaos. Was the Julet he was hearing real? Was the Julet in the bed real? Was this all a dream? Or rather a nightmare?

Julet walked to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder. She tried to comfort him. Ironically, the attempt did the opposite. He swiped off her arm, repelling him from her. Julet sat on the bed as if she didn't notice the corpse. Or the two other beings.

"What is the matter?" She asked with a soft smile. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"Shut up!" He shouted repetitively. "Who are you? What are you?" She opened her mouth to answer. "Don't you dare say Julet!"

"Then who am I to say if not her?"

The purple one waddled next to Romero. "She is Julet." Romero's eyes shifted to the body. "If she was alive..."

The orange one sat next to Julet. "That is if she was healthy. Your Julet was sick, frail, destined to end."

"We made another Julet, opposite to that."

They both glared at Romero. "Aren't you happy just to be with her?"

Romero began with a confused stutter, uttering words that conflicted with his memories. He did want to be with her. He wanted her stay with him forever... but not like this. Perhaps if he didn't know the truth, then just maybe...? Then, he resumed with anger:

"Not like this. This is unnatural. You creatures of mischief should not have meddled with our lives!"

"Amor," the orange called with a restrained laughter. "Sounds like he didn't love her as much as we thought."

"Dual," the purple responded along with a sigh. "He has lots of love, but only enough for one, not two."

Romero commanded them to take the fake Julet and leave. They held each of Julet's hands. Their free hands covered their mouths and giggled. Obediently, the three left.

Romero was alone to grieve once more.

¿¡~¡?

At the gates of the city, guards had gathered. They interrogated a mysterious woman. Julet intervened. They dispersed.

"Oh! Sister So'Umbra," Dual gleefully greeted. "Nice to meet you!" He giggled.

"I suggest we can all go somewhere else to play," Amor hummed. "We won't be welcomed to stay."

So'Umbra eyed the two. Her wolfdog grumbled with a tone of mockery. "I suppose you caused quite the problem here." She turned away from the city. "Very well. Let's find somewhere else."

"Yay!" Dualamor cheered.

"But not together."

"Oh..."

So'Umbra turned her head to peek at Julet. "She can follow me."

Dualamor held hands. As they ran off, they merged with one another, turning into a brown fox. Its chuckles was heard through the woods.

Julet looked at So'Umbra. "There is a place I would like to visit."