✴️ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ ᴀʟᴍᴏꜱᴛ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ ✴️

Though he had no time for himself, no time for Luna, no time at all. Cornelius refused to get soft. He snuck through the incandescent, muggy halls in the secret chamber hidden behind the walls of the throne room.

His pure blue eyes pinned at the statue of Queen Helen. In her marbled neck, he glimpse her yellow, sphere amulet, marked with the symbol of the sun. The amulet that contains the queen's magic. It was meant to be given to the next queen of Cardonia, but Cornelius knew Luna wasn't ready to take the amulet.

"FATHER? FATHER, WHERE ARE YOU?" Luna's words was echoing.

Cornelius left the chamber, and pushed the loosed brick on the wall, causing the it to crack into half.

He walked outside and saw Luna's jaw opened, she watched the cracked walls had closed slowly, and it return to normal, no more sign of cracks.

"You called me, Luna?" he asked,

"What's in there?" because of Luna's curiosity, she forgot the matter she was suppose to say.

Cornelius stared at her, speechless. Not knowing how to answer.

"Can I go in too, father?" she asked, trying to peek at the closed wall that suppose to lead to another room.

"Well, you can't really go in, and-"

"And why not!" she barked, putting both of her hands in her hips, while frowning at his father.

She snorts, and added, "Maybe, if my sister was here, you'll freely allow her to go in, am I right?"

"Maybe," his simple answer.

"I knew it. Too bad Aileen is dead she won't be able to see what's inside there, like I do. But look at me! I'm still here in your front, in your sight, still breathing, and remember I'm also your daughter. So why can't you just focus on me and forget her, why can't you treat me like Aileen. Why father? Is a dead girl is more important than your living daughter?" she said, as her voice started to rise up

Cornelius exhaled, he tried to remain calm, "I can't let you go in right now, because only the next heir has the right to enter, and Luna please stop comparing yourself to your sister, always remember that I love you both equally, even though she's not here with us."

"How can I stop comparing myself, if your making me compare myself to her." Tears escaped from her eyes, she let them run down to her cheeks. She didn't wait for his response, she turned her back on him and started to walk away.

Luna passed Eloisa, as the duchess walked towards Cornelius with a sealed envelope in her hands. "What's wrong with Luna?" Eloisa asked him.

Cornelius eyes caught the envelop in her hands, and curiously looked at it, because of it he forgot her first question, "What's that?"

"The leader of the pixies delivered this to you, they said it's very urgent." she said, handing him the message.

Hearing the word urgent , he immediately ripped the envelope open and took out the letter and he read it with his eyes.

"So what does it say?" Eloisa asked after he read it.

"The pixies seek help from us, the bandits planned to rob and attack their village." he said, folding back the paper.

"Eloisa, write and send this to them, 'I, King Cornelius, will immediately deploy my knights around the pixie village to secure the residents safety'."

"Right away, brother. But now can you tell me what is going on with Luna?"

"Deliver the message, we'll discuss about her later. I still have work to do."

✴️ ✴ ️✴️

The duchess looked for Luna, and found her seating at the grassy field near their flower garden. She stared up in the sky full of fluffy white clouds, with the cheerful, chirping birds soaring high above.

"Luna? Goodness. I was worried about you? What happened to you earlier?" Eloisa said, approaching her niece and sat besides her. Luna glance at her but she didn't answer or speak a single word.

"Let me guess, your father started to mention about your sister again." Eloisa said.

"No, not exactly. It's just, he is so unfair, he doesn't want me to enter in that secret room and I bet he have no intention to tell me that there's a secret behind our castle walls." Luna replied.

"Wait, hold on. There's a secret room in the castle?" Eloisa ask.

Luna nodded and added, "In the throne room."

Maybe that's where he hids it, the duchess thought. She smile sweetly at Luna and asked, "Luna is there still something your father mention about that hidden room? Like what's inside or is he hiding something. Come on dear, you can tell aunt Eloisa about it."

"That's just it. Like I said, he doesn't want me to know or enter, because he said only the next heir can enter, and if he meant next heir, he meant my sister because we all know she's the oldest daughter and destined to be queen." Luna said, irritated.

"Ah, now I understand why you said it's unfair. You are the next heir now, because Aileen doesn't exist anymore." Eloisa said, agreeing with Luna.

Luna nodded, "I don't think father see's the way we do. I wish father will be gone, that way he can be with Aileen and with my mother, they will be so happy together. While I will achieve my happy ending, to be a queen in Cardonia. You'll be there to guide me when I'm queen, right aunt?"

"Of course Luna. I will be forever at your side. But Luna, you need to be careful at what you wish for, dear." Eloisa gave Luna a warm hug.

Luna felt safe at her aunt's touch, for she knew Eloisa is with her. She is her only ally she can trust no one else, and the only one who could understand her.