Kira let out a long sigh, her eyes closing briefly as she grappled with the weight of her situation, "You already know...My cover was broken, and I got exposed in a way I never imagined all these years," she admitted with a hint of frustration in her voice.
Zu nodded with furrowed brows, "I heard…I never thought an alien boy who was soulless for almost his entire life would be the one. He can't be ordinary at all if he managed to slip under your eyes."
"He isn't," Kira said with a hardened expression and added, "That is why I want him dead first. I have this gnawing feeling that he is going to be very troublesome if allowed to live. He is head over heels with his queen, so he will do whatever it takes to secure the interests of his kingdom. Him getting crowned as the king only sealed that fact."
She then looked at Zu with concern, "Does everyone here know about it?"
Zu shook his head, his expression reassuring, "Other than our scouts and myself, no one knows that you've been living among our enemies. It's not like most of the people here even step out of this haven you created for us," he said, offering a comforting smile.
Kira's expression eased into one of relief, "Good," she murmured.
Zu's expression turned somber as he addressed the larger issue at hand. "But how long can we protect them from the truth? Sooner or later, they'll realize that you've not only been secretly gathering resources for us but also putting yourself in danger among those bloodburners to seek vengeance for us."
Kira responded with a wistful smile, tinged with determination, "I know. But I'll do everything I can to ensure they don't learn the truth," she said.
Her eyes then hardened with a cold glint, "...until I'm done with them. Only then can the souls of our people who bled and died on these very lands finally rest in peace."
Zu's expression turned resolute, reflecting his deep-seated desire, "I, too, wish vengeance upon those bloody usurpers," he said firmly and added, "I know it is one of the reasons your father crowned you queen on his deathbed to honor the memories of the ones who fell and to punish everyone who had a hand in our fall."
However, his expression softened as he glanced around at the young men and women, their faces alight with innocent joy, "But after all these years here, when I look at them, I realize I want nothing more than to keep them smiling. They're happiest when they see you," Zu said, his voice tinged with emotion. He turned back to Kira, his eyes warm, "That's why your life is more important than anything. You don't have to risk everything for us. We would rather lose everything than lose you. You're not only the last of your kind but also the last queen of whatever is left of our kingdom and our strongest protector. Whatever plans you have... they don't involve you leaving us, right?"
Kira looked away for a moment, her expression wistful, before meeting Zu's gaze, "I know," she acknowledged softly, "But you also know this place isn't meant to last forever. It's not a haven but an illusory prison to protect our people. We can't be happy here indefinitely. And I can't keep up with the immense resources this place needs forever, especially given my current situation. When that happens, everything will fall apart. Once our people are exposed, they will be tortured, killed, or taken advantage of."
Zu nodded, his eyes closing in a pained acknowledgment, "I know. Maybe I'm getting too old, too comfortable with this illusion of peace. I should be the one fighting out there, not just you."
Kira, her expression filled with a mixture of gratitude and respect, gently shook her head, "You've already done more than enough, Father Zu," she said softly, "You saved me and a few others from my mother's tribe when our kingdom fell. You've raised me well and have been like a father, not just to me but to all of us here. You are the only one who can protect this place in my absence, so please don't feel guilty about not joining me outside."
Zu's eyes seemed to drift into the past as Kira spoke, reflecting on old, sorrowful memories, "I was your mother's godfather, yet I couldn't save her or any others from your father's bloodline," he said, his voice tinged with regret.
Kira offered him a wistful smile, her words aimed at soothing his guilt, "It's not your fault. My mother believed it was her duty to stand by the man she loved, and my father and his people felt it was their duty to defend our kingdom at all costs. But my father also wanted to ensure the survival of a few of us. That's why he chose to die with our kingdom. Otherwise, they would never stop until they have hunted each and every one of them. He hoped we could finish what they started."
"But they now know about your existence. They must be already gathering people to hunt you down," Zu said with a worried look and added with gritted teeth, "They fear even what one of you is capable of. Isn't that why they went so far as to try and eradicate your father's bloodline? There were only 100 of you, and now they won't rest until they erase the last one."
Kira offered a reassuring yet confident smile, "Don't worry, Father Zu. I have lived through all sorts of hardships outside and dealt with so many of them that I know how to hide from these vile greedy scums. They will never think of looking in the very place our kingdom used to be, nor will they want to come anywhere near a dead land. I also have some "friends" outside to help me out. I will rest here until—"
Kira's conversation with Zu was gently interrupted by the feel of a small girl, about four years old, tugging and hugging her three golden tails. The girl's face was lit up with wonder and joy, "She really has three of them! Waaaw…."
"Kina! Don't disturb Her Grace!" Layna, appearing slightly out of breath, rushed towards them, her face apologetic.
Kina looked up at Kira with wide, innocent eyes, "They are so soft and big as big sis said!" she exclaimed, clearly mesmerized by Kira's three golden tails.
Kira couldn't help but smile warmly at the little girl's enthusiasm, "Oh my. This little one is quite naughty," she said affectionately, lifting Kina up into her arms.
Kina giggled delightedly, reaching out to play with Kira's golden locks, "They are so smooth, tehehe!" she chirped.
Zu watched the interaction with a light chuckle, "Hoho, little Kina finally got to meet her queen. She has been praying to see you and has been nagging us every day to let her meet you."
Layna looked embarrassed as she approached, "I am so sorry, Your Grace. My little sister can be a bit unruly at times. I can take her back if you'd like," she offered, her voice filled with an apologetic tone.
Kira, however, shook her head and gently pecked Kina's cheek, eliciting an even louder giggle from the child, "Let her be. You were like this too, or did you forget now that you're all grown up?" Kira teased Layna playfully.
"Your Grace..." Layna mumbled shyly, her head bowed slightly, a hint of nostalgia and affection in her voice.
Kira leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a lower, more intimate tone as she asked Layna, "Did your father remarry?" Kira knew Layna's mother had died tragically from lingering injuries she suffered during the fall of their kingdom, and after that, Layna had been raised by her father.
Layna responded with a soft smile, her voice equally low, "He initially didn't want to, out of respect for our old traditions and because he couldn't let go of my mother in his heart. But with our situation and our numbers dwindling, everyone encouraged him not to waste his life," She paused briefly, her smile growing tender, "And it just so happened that one of the women here lost her husband, who was a scout."
Kira nodded, her gaze filled with a mixture of sadness and understanding. Looking at the playful Kina, she added warmly, "He did the right thing. Otherwise, this beautiful little one wouldn't have been born."
Zu nodded with a warm smile.
"Yes," Layna agreed, her smile reflecting a sense of contentment, "My father is happier now than he was before. Things are much better for him now."
"Your Grace!" Shoichi suddenly rushed towards her with a serious expression, though he looked around and took a deep breath to steady his breath. It seemed as if he had come running urgently.
Layna, noticing that it must be something important, immediately swept in and plucked Kina away, "I will let you know when the feast is ready, Your Grace," Layna bowed deeply as she hurried away.
"Did something happen?" Kira asked as she turned to look at Shoichi while Zu looked on with furrowed brows.
"He managed to escape. The Rustblood Clan failed," Shoichi said with a hint of anger and frustration in his eyes.
Zu had his brows raised while Kira narrowed her eyes, "Even after all the help they got, they still couldn't do it. I knew it…He is going to be hard to kill."
"Should we try to intercept him? He has yet to reach the Draconis Kingdom and will be passing over our lands. Since he is the king of the bloodburners now, his death will definitely be a huge blow to them," Shoichi asked with a deadly sharp glint in his eyes.
Kira shook her head and said, "No. Leave it. We can't afford to take huge risks now, and he may not even return alive once the draconians are done with him. Let's use our time here to think about what to do next. He isn't the only one we have to deal with," Saying so, Kira looked up, her emerald eyes reflecting the crimson skies.
