A whole week flew before the darkness truly dispersed.

I nursed my head, sitting in a room of the Autumn Palace, a bloody lemonade in hand. And there was a recently-delivered scroll in my other hand, which had shaken the ground under my feet.

I was no longer the King of the Summer Realm.

Because a Summer King doesn't have an Earth Eclipse as a sibling.

And I knew just whose work this was.

As my guards told me, mother had left the Winter Realm on the same night when she had put on a show for everyone... the sting of it still ringing in my ears. And now she had shut the door of my house on my face from miles away.

It wouldn't have mattered before, but now I needed that damned title. I had no meaning in life back then, living like an orphan, finding solace in drinks, training till my limbs ached, talking with my Mind Healer like the old man was my only friend, suffocating in a house with no life and color... but now I had a sister, two maybe, and I had a purpose... a purpose father had sent for me from the stars, along with his golden sundial.

Eleni didn't know that I had put in a letter of appeal, to give her a title that was rightfully hers, passed on from her half-heritage. She didn't want one... but it would make sure no one touched her again. That no one called her an Abomination ever again. She'd be the first royal Eclipse in the history of the Four Realms.

In the process, maybe all the Eclipses could have a normal life, once the new laws would be passed and they wouldn't have to live as shadows in the dark. But Hell be damned, for I had lost my own crown in the process. The Summer Panel had clearly protested against me with inside help. Fueling the people's ignorant minds.

Oh, great-great-great-great-great grandmother Brianna... help me!

I had half a mind to throw the drink out of the window, but it did calm my nerves. This was what I was reduced to now - lemonades - Commoner. Gone were the days of whiskeys and wines - Royalty.

A knock rang on the door, jolting me from my thoughts. Una pushed the door and leant against the doorway.

I raised my glass at her. "Delicious, this. Tastes like humiliation."

"I always knew the Summer Realmers were stupid, but this is phenomenal." Una walked in.

Even after a week's rest, she still looked like she had just stepped down from the battle-field. A cut down her cheek, crinkled a bit, and I wondered how I, myself appeared.

"The Aries House especially has a flair for dramatics."

"Your friend is the High King." She sat on the chair opposite to mine.

"Who is not himself. Let's keep this between us. I sent a letter back to the Summer Panel and asked for a month before I step down."

"Right. Nova doesn't need more shit. But man, under different circumstances..." Una's forehead wrinkled. "And I wonder whether he'd still have that command seeing what his twin did. People just need someone to put a blame on."

I groaned, recalling the vibrations of melancholy dripping off Nova. "He was tranced for two years and wakes up for a war, against his own brother. And the Throne says - now go run the world. What even is that? If anything, he is the biggest victim of it all."

"Facts. Though, I always knew he was worthy. Was jealous of him, obviously." She shrugged.

I nodded, agreeing.

"So, there's something I needed to tell you, um, Eleni is willing to accompany me, until Doran heals," she announced.

I slurped the whole drink down, swallowing the sting. "I know. She made a good choice."

Maybe she'd be better away from the Summer Realm. But I wanted Eleni to see where father grew, where she might have grown up, wanted her to meet our grandmother, wanted her as a family. No, she was definitely better away for I had lost all my faith in mother after the scroll arrived.

Una said, "Even the girl, Amelia... you know it's going to be an issue. She is an Air Elemental. The laws demand her to be in the Spring Realm. And Eleni, being an Eclipse, can't lawfully be her caretaker anymore..." She trailed off, helplessly.

Even a drop of whiskey would do, for my head was squelching with strain. My emotions all jumbled up. Did I even have the right to look after them both, even if I wanted to? Hell, I hadn't even looked after myself properly.

But they had a mother. A good one, obviously. "Ask the Chief." I said, averting my gaze from her.

"About that... Listen, Ralph," her face suddenly turned all things serious, "I feel like there is something... something extremely fishy about the Eclipses."

Baffled, I leaned forward, the tensed muscles in my back cackling with the abrupt movement.

Una tapped her finger on the table, "Her abandoning Eleni... keeping her away all these years. Doesn't make sense. Chief Cora is hiding something... about her army. I can feel it. And my instincts are never wrong."

I held Una's intense stare, thoughts running rampant in my head.

Una added softly, "Fireling and I got this, just in case my suspicions are true. Don't worry."

Words stuck in my throat, so I simply dipped my head. Awkwardness swirled around us for some time. It was hard to look at the Chief and not wonder how different my life might have been if father hadn't... I took a deep breath, inhaling through the nose and letting out through the mouth.

I said, finally conceding, "My mother used to be a member of the Summer Panel and guess who just joined back."

Una's eyes widened, urgently, "Bloody hell. No, offense, but that's a nightmare."

Once, Una had seen my mother once, and that was enough. Enough for everyone to know what we were dealing with.

"How does Lady Izora have that power already? Not my place to ask, but why would she do that to her own son?" She pointed to the scroll.

"Loves me a little too much."

"Want me to go have a word?"

"Your word will get you indisposed as well and we'd be utterly powerless. I'd suggest you play the part of the perfect Queen just as the High Panel wants... until Nova takes up the charge and gets everything in his control. I am already doomed, might as well put on a good show. My mother would adore it."

Una looked concerned, "So, what are you going to do now?"

I dragged a hand down my face and reclined back in my chair. "Go back. Buy a house. Live like a commoner. Farm it out maybe. Have fun with lemonades."

She narrowed her eyes, "Chicken."

"I will get justice my own way, calm down, rocky." Will I?

No longer could I conveniently hide behind grandmother and let her take care of everything. I had to sort this. Sort all the mess. Eleni might not even notice my absence while she had her people - Amelia, Doran even Una. She'd be safe and that's what mattered. I had to do what I had to. 

Abandoned by father, now disowned by mother. Lost a kingdom above all. I'd toast to that all alone. Like always.

Una spoke smirking, jolting me from my thoughts, "You know, if Doran wants to be with the rarest Eclipse of the world, then he'd have to put on a pretty good show as well."

I shook my head, chuckling, "I'd pay to watch him kick the High Councilor's arse. You too as a matter of fact..."

Una's eyes widened, as she twirled a strand of her hair, "Maybe."

I smiled at her, "Acknowledge it before it's too late, rocky. Life's damn short."

Una let out a long exhale, "I am not here to take tips about... girls. Oh, speaking of which... Arlette likes you."

A cough tumbled from me, and I focused my eyes on the giant rings on my fingers. "My... uh... experience with girls is surely worse than yours. Also, she is... young, younger than me. Eleni-like."

"Sisters clearly ruined your love life." Una chuckled like a kid, and I smiled, shaking my head.

Wish I could tell her, how life was back at home, that there was nothing to ruin. No girls at home. No friends over. And who would want to approach a guy with childhood scars whipped on his body. One girl had freaked out and since then, the clothes stayed on. And the hoodwinking around stopped altogether.

I cleared my mind and spoke, "There's a Mind Sorceress in the Eclipses army, Althea's the name. She was a huge help in the war, and is truly brilliant. I reckon you take her with you. I am worried about Amelia's mental health - she was in a dungeon at such a young age... underwater at that..."

The kid must never have received such scars physically and mentally.

Una bobbed her head, "Right. Also, Nova and Miss Joanna needs it, all the help in healing. Maybe you could ask this Althea-girl... one Mind Healer to another..."

I thought about the tall athletic soldier, who had taught me a complex mind-spell right on the battlefield--her long hair the shade of dusky silver and eyes a like the lavender evening skies of the Summer Realm, and voice like--My eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected direction of my thoughts.

Where the Hell did that come from, mate?

Clearing my throat, I focused my imbecile mind back to the pile of problems at hand. "You... uh... lost the most soldiers, Una. I am truly sorry it came to that. If I had the authority, I would've sent additional forces until you start new military recruiting, but I now, am a simple man..."

She let out a shaky breath, "I appreciate it and that might have been scandalous, don't you think? The treaty of alliance still has a long way to go. Well, at least we stamped that while you were still in tenure."

I nodded. Even if we were ready to let go of our prejudices, the traditional people who knew no other way but to hate and fight like archnemesis, wouldn't be. There were going to be protests, and with the scroll in my hand, I knew it had already begun. Doran going to the Autumn Realm would be yet another disaster and I shuddered to get started about the Fire-Earth Eclipse.

After a silent stretch, Una spoke, "He is gone, right, that bastard? Like really gone?"

"Yes!" Yes?

I sensed the fierce Autumn Queen's grief, her sleeplessness and anxiety. Raising a teasing brow, I added, "Also, I think I have another task for Serena, if she is willing."

Una's face broke into a smile, as expected, and she did a piss poor job in hiding it. "Alright. Let's do all of that royal shit again."

We both sighed together, sitting back, watching the winter sun set in the horizon until it submerged completely, while comfortable silence stretched between us.

"She'd have taken better care of Nova, if she were here," Una said softly.

I smiled wistfully as snowflake's beautiful face flashed in my head. No one to call me Ralphy. No one to tell me to stand up for myself. To have my back.

Just when I thought I could be a good King, be a better ruler like everyone else, it was snatched away from me. And I refused to believe that.

***

Serena was talking to my mother. And I simply stood frozen, hanging on to every word passing between them.

She had taken it up on herself to inform mother about all the developments, about the Summer Lord needing further medical attention in the Autumn Realm - on Miss Joanna's insistence, who fussed over Doran as if he weren't a Lord but a mere kid of ten.

Nursing her head, mother heard it all, but when our eyes met... I knew she wasn't opposed to having Summer people in our Realm, but the people would be. It had been centuries since a female had ascended as the Autumn Realm's ruler, and I had to do everything in my power, to not let anything sabotage my stand. Avoiding my enemy ruler's fate.

We were young royals, learnt everything in theory... and our reigns had started with a war, with the most secret scandalous society of the world coming out of the shadows, with the ancestral feud dissolving, with baseless protests against us and worse - the old High Panel's administration already winning favors over the new monarchs.

Serena told her all about Eleni and Amelia, accompanying the entourage, while covertly avoiding the mention of her old 'Head-Guard-turned-Chief' being Eleni's mother. The old friends hadn't crossed paths with each other and I knew not whether I wanted them to or not.

World the size of a lemon, this!

Shortly later, Serena and I walked out of the palace, side by side, slowly, as if we both didn't want this time to end.

"So, when do you leave for home?" I asked, stepping out in the open sun.

"Day after the next. Family's worried after all that condemnation news."

"There's nothing to worry about now. You belong to the High King's Realm, with the High King being your friend as well. Keep the royal seal close."

She smiled softly, "Thank you."

I swallowed hard, unable to look at her, as my palms sweated up. "I... um... you know, if and when you decide to come back, I, well, fireboy actually has some tasks for you. There's lot to oversee, and I am not-so-cool-headed. And I'd need some help... like an advisor... Nova definitely would. You see..."

Serena chuckled, "Una, if you want me to come to your Realm, you can say so."

I sighed, "Please come."

"Are you scared of me?" Serena narrowed her eyes.

"No?" I hid a smile in vain. "Maybe..."

She grinned, "Well, I think I like the honor of being the only person who scares you."

"You can have the honor of making me feel all kinds of things, if you want to." I mumbled.

"What?" She blinked.

"What?"

Serena's face was flushed pink, while she smiled beautifully, and I couldn't help but bask in the knowledge that it was all for me. She spoke in her ever-so-flowery voice, "I might actually take you up on that word. And you know, you could always visit. My family is big and nice... If you need a break, you can always come get me."

Stunned, I nodded in a heartbeat, "I'll do that."

Were my cheeks reddening like hers? Holy crap!

A battle-axe was easier to lift, for when I reached my hand ahead, and took hers in mine, the weight of the emotions that surged in me, made me lose my momentum. She suddenly stepped closer and rose on her toes and gave a quick peck on my cheek. And I froze.

Acknowledge it before it's too late, rocky.

I blew a breath, and pulled her close by the waist. Capturing her lips with mine, I showed her just what I felt about her without words. And she understood for her arms encircled around my waist and she deepened the kiss.

Maybe, I'd need to change a few things around after all, now that I knew, once and for all, that my feelings were being reciprocated. My hands clasped tighter around her back, and a muscle cracked - I'd have to put on a pretty good show as well. I'd be a proud law-breaking Queen.

Serena sighed in my grip, and all rational thoughts went into oblivion, for this was peace. The emotion I had forgotten all about, which now came alive only with this sunshiny girl's presence in my otherwise gloomy life.

***