Taken to Tuan Kingdom as they are lacking of staff to treat sick people, Princess Aera has also learn to become a more respectful and lovable person - yet she still doesn’t want to associate herself with the royalties.
In The Royal House
the invitation, his time
♘ Extras ♘
About her
♖ Tags ♖
aesthetics
his stories
inspo
visage
♔ Kingdom of Jb ♔
Being force to follow her father's footstep of becoming a bodyguard, Hyesung has to work in the royal household. Unofficially, she tends to be the Prince Jaebeom's bodyguard and now, Hyesung is officially an employee of the royal household of the Kim after saving the prince from being killed.
In The Royal House
his feelings, his loyal friends
♘ Extras ♘
About her
♖ Tags ♖
aesthetics
his stories
inspo
visage
♔ Kingdom of Jackson ♔
Princess Minjung is a young woman who is well-known for her excellence in her swordsmanship and archery - but there was one flaw that she had to improve, her academic and her confidence towards facing her own feelings.
In The Royal House
the dance, the night
♘ Extras ♘
About her
♖ Tags ♖
aesthetics
his stories
inspo
visage
♔ Kingdom of Jinyoung ♔
Colonel Ahn has been working with King Park - being the King's bodyguard, hence both of them have been really close that they are best friends. After involving herself with wars, Lieutenant Yuna would join her journey on working with her father - in the Royal Household of The Park Kingdom.
In The Royal House
her body, his worries
♘ Extras ♘
About her
♖ Tags ♖
aesthetics
his stories
inspo
visage
♔ Kingdom of Youngjae ♔
Sailing to different parts of other kingdoms, Princess Jinae as well as her sister, has been claimed 'dead' by other royal families as they weren't aware that the princesses of The Hwang Kingdom are actually living in the sea.
In The Royal House
♘ Extras ♘
About her
♖ Tags ♖
aesthetics
his stories
inspo
visage
♔ Kingdom of Bambam ♔
Leaving her past behind, Princess Eunjung has also left her memories with a certain prince whom she made a lot of moments with - before leaving him behind to go to war.
In The Royal House
♘ Extras ♘
About her
♖ Tags ♖
aesthetics
his stories
inspo
visage
♔ Kingdom of Yugyeom ♔
Finding out that other royal families claimed that both of the princesses of Hwang Kingdom are dead, Princess Soojin decided to return back to the first kingdom where she starts her journey as one of the warrior princesses.
SUMMARY ― Trouble came regarding the orphanage, to only reveal what was going on in Morian by a lady that was in a harem that was made by the princes of Morian.
CHARACTERS ― Princess Riana Aera/Princess Diana, Queen Aerina (White Queen), Grandma Kim, Zen Alberto, Lim Jaebeom, Mark Tuan, Jackson Wang, Park Jinyoung, Choi Youngjae, Bambam, Kim Yugyeom, Neo Brothers
WARNINGS/AUTHOR’S NOTE ― Mention of Slitting Throat, Slight Violence and Angst. Basically Emo Jaebeom at first.
I just finished reading a few reports regarding Morian and my eyes glanced towards a photo frame on my desk.
Picking up the photo frame, my eyes glanced towards each one of us before going to the little girl in the middle of me and Jackson.
Aera.
I honestly regret saying those words to Jinyoung, knowing I might have triggered some of them.
I really don’t know what to do with myself.
At this point, I’m just trying to live up to Aera’s expectation.
Is this what Aera wanted?
I was too into staring at Aera's face when a loud knock was heard. I put down the frame in a hurry before walking towards the door, to reveal Jinyoung and Yugyeom.
“What—
“Jaebeom, we have to go to the orphanage now. Someone tried to destroy their home.” Jinyoung whispered while looking around.
Destroy?
“What do you mean destroy?” I questioned him and Jinyoung looked at me dead in the eye.
“Well, I don’t know! Why not ask your girlfriend?” Jinyoung glared towards me and somehow, I began to feel irritated with his passive-aggressive behavior.
Why does he always blame me for what Larisa has done?
“You know what Jinyoung—
“Okay, guys. There is no time for fighting. Jaebeom, we were told by Aerina’s knights that the Eridas’ had sent out their own men to destroy the house just because they didn’t pay the orphanages bill.” Yugyeom hurriedly stated.
Why didn’t Larisa tell me anything?
“How much did the bills cost?”
“A billion.”
“Oh god I wanna puke.. But a billion? Why didn’t Jaebeom settle this?”
They were in the car, which Aera wasn’t fond of.
“Sorry, Ae― Diana. I mean, the carriage was being repaired, and I don’t know what’s going on in Morian’s castle. Although we are owned by Prince Jaebeom, the orphanage is being independently managed by the people there… and me.”
Aera snapped her head towards Zen, his eyes went downcast in feeling guilty.
“Zen, why didn’t you tell me or mother? We could have solved this.”
“I didn’t want to bother her highness and you.”
Aera’s face softens as she pats Zen’s hands, then gripping onto it.
“It isn’t a bother when you need help, Zen. I don’t know if you know this but we are considered a family. I know I didn't personally raise you, my mother did, but I already consider you as my own little brother which doesn’t make sense but you know what I mean!” Aera blabbered but made her point as she whispered at the last part.
Zen raised his head, making eye contact with Aera, seeing that his eyes turned cloudy after hearing her honest words.
“So don’t hide anything from me, I know I will find out anyways.. But…” Aera strictly said at first, but her words trailed off as her eyes focused towards what was happening outside.
Her eyes frowned as she tilted her head, trying to listen to the conversation.
She could see a man talking to a woman, but her eyes changed after seeing what the man was carrying.
“Step away, woman! Or I won’t hesitate to slit your throat!”
“You have to go through me if you want to burn this house down!”
She could already see everything in advance as she quickly busted open the car door.
“Hey!”
There were more than 5 guys here and not to mention all of them were big and bulky - and the fact that they were dressed up like mafias.
I’m not even scared of them.
“Seriously..” One of them hissed before turning towards me.
“You should pick on someone your own size.” I said while eyeing towards the other guys.
There was silence at first but it changed into sarcastic laughters coming from them.
“Well, lady, I think you should pick on your own size to mess with.” The man commented, followed by a loud sarcastic chuckle.
I could only bite the inner part of my cheeks in irritation.
“Princess! Be careful!”
Recognizing the voice, I turned towards Anaisa who was hugging the lady tightly while watching me.
I need to be careful.
“You should scram, really. Before I’ll kick you personally.”
The man looked down at me, before continuing to laugh - that was the moment when I decided to kick him in the nuts roughly and my hands had to multitask since the other guys jumped onto me.
My hands were twisting random other hands, while avoiding kicks and punches - at the same time I tried to use magic secretly.
I thought I was clear and safe when I felt something being thrown to me and when I turned to the front, a knife literally was being pointed an inch away from me.
Red psionic forces were surrounded by the knife, at the same time I could hear loud gasps from those 5 men.
Followed by my raised hands, those 5 men were being lifted up as well and I turned towards one of them.
“Who sent you here?”
“Please don’t kill us!”
“It was her! She—
“Who is she?!”
“The Eridas!”
I could feel myself getting angry and I could feel my eyes glowing in red.
Why..?
Realizing I was frowning, I looked away before snapping my head towards the leader.
“Your money and a letter of purchase will be in your hands. This orphanage will be bought by Aerina and no one, I repeat, no one can touch this property.”
I warned them at the same time, their eyes glowed in red since I kind of brainwashed them, nodding to my words before I put them down.
Just like robots, they walked away from me, they went in the direction to Morian.
Realizing what had happened, my eyes turned towards where the kids were, seeing that they were staring at me with gaped mouths.
My eyes went downcast in disappointment, I was afraid to read and sense their thoughts so I was about to erase what they had seen previously.
“No, Aera! Wait!”
Turning behind, Zen ran towards me and as soon as he reached me, he held onto my hands, looking at me in the eye.
“Trust them, Aera.”
“So it is true!”
“Miriana, watch it. She is still a princess.”
The lady introduced herself as Miriana, made tea for both Zen and Aera. Aera was surprised to see her reaction.
Aera raised her brows towards Miriana who placed the tea to Aera.
“You do not know how much Anaisa had told me. I thought she was lying, but we all know kids don’t lie.” Miriana whispered, looking at Aera with sparkly eyes.
As if she was a star.
Aera could only look down while playing with her fingers, causing red mists being shown.
“I don’t know how Prince Jaebeom and the others would react if they know you are here.” Miriana muttered, making Aera snap towards her.
“You know them?” Aera turned towards Miriana before turning towards Zen who was smiling slightly.
“....Prince Jaebeom and the other princes have a harem, and I am one of them.”
Aera spits on her tea, causing Zen to run towards her, handing her a handkerchief.
“Excuse me?.. A harem?”
Miriana chuckled to see Aera’s reaction. “Yes, your highness. But I think you misunderstood their choices.”
“Well, originally, Prince Jaebeom is the one who is in-charge of us - because of issues in the castle he decided to let the other princes in charge, but the main ones would be Prince Jinyoung and Prince Jackson.” Moriana explained, eyes went downcast.
“They would often come visit the harem. Just visiting and having a little chat though, to know how we are doing in our everyday lives. The princes meant no harm and they have no ill-intentions. That’s why the girls in the harem respect them. They see them as an older-brother. I know it’s quite rude of me to say it but really, I treat them as my older brother.” Moriana continued with a smile on her face as she turned her eyes towards Aera.
Aera knows she wasn’t lying, she had read her thoughts and Miriana was right.
Nodding slowly, Aera continued sipping onto her tea.
As she puts down the cup of tea, Aera turns towards Miriana.
“Please don’t tell anyone about me. I mean, even if you told me to others, I would know. I will eventually know.” Aera slightly warned her, earning an enthusiastic nod from Miriana.
“I won’t, and you can trust me fully as I really am your biggest fan, along with the other kids.” Miriana bowed her head towards Aera, causing Aera to smile widely when the main door opens roughly.
Zen was already in front of me, with Miriana too.
But they quickly stood back after seeing a few faces.
“What happened?!” Jackson was the first one to enter the orphanage followed by Bambam and Jinyoung, lastly, the one that Aera had recently thought about.
Aera stood awkwardly, eyeing onto Zen and Miriana to basically reply to him.
“Lady Diana has already settled the situation, your highness.” Zen glance towards Aera, earning confused faces from the others.
“Okay— wait, what? She paid a billion?” Someone commented and Aera recognized that it was Bambam.
She could only scoff out loud. “Are you trying to say that I am not capable of paying?” Aera raised an eyebrow towards Bambam with a glare, as he proceeded to hide behind Jinyoung.
“You should watch how you say, you are speaking to—
“Princes of Morian, friends of Princess Riana Aera. I’m not dumb, Prince Jinyoung.” Aera slightly squinted towards Jinyoung, who was frowning slightly.
“Wait, so you paid fully for the bills?” Jaebeom spoke up, and Aera turned towards him with a nod.
“Here is the receipt by the way.” Aera handed the paper towards Jaebeom, which Jinyoung took, he proceeded to read the paper - his eyes moving in speed.
His eyes widened towards Jaebeom, handing it towards Jaebeom.
“You bought the orphanage? But it’s ours!” Jinyoung argued and Aera’s expression grew cold.
“It was, but. You owned this place and you didn’t have the money to pay fully?” Aera questioned, her voice surprisingly sounded icy cold while slightly tilting her head.
Even Zen and Miriana had their head downcast, since in their eyes, it was Aera that was speaking to them.
“We are trying to settle everything fairly, Diana.” Jaebeom answered, his eyes looked determined but Aera shakes her head while looking away.
“Too late, Prince Jaebeom. If I hadn’t come earlier, I don’t know what will happen to the kids here.”
“Do you know who she is? She acts like a princess!”
“She does look like a princess!”
“I don’t know who she is, but I can tell she is someone different.” I muttered, replying to Jinyoung and Jackson, after exiting their car from the orphanage.
After the conversation with Diana, she somehow walked away from us along with Zen.
What’s weird is that Miriana didn’t even spare a look towards us, or even Jinyoung.
She only bowed to us before running upstairs, which made Jinyoung all mad and bothered.
I was actually intimidated by Diana, her eyes filled with passion and her voice sounded so real. I could hear her emotions behind her voice.
She wasn’t being fake.
I can’t help but want to know her although most of us aren’t too excited to be associated with her.
“I mean, you can always tell Queen Aerina. I’m sure she could hand the orphanage back.” I shrugged and Jinyoung sighed.
“We’ll see.”
Few days after the incident in the orphanage, Aera was walking around the palace, as usual trying to explore the huge place when she heard a few voices in a room, a study room.
Aera used her senses to hear what was going on.
“No! Not like that!”
“You are doing it wrong!”
“Lucas, no!”
“Can you guys be quiet!? You’re literally making the entire Aerina household hear us!”
“Mother and the Lady tutor is going to kill us.”
Aera frowned as she stared at the door.
They are the Neo Brothers, why on wonderland are they here?
She was about to walk away when she recognized a royal housemaid that worked with her for her tailor.
“Princess Diana! What are you doing here?”
Aera widened her eyes, as she was gesturing her hands in an awkward manner.
“I.. I was walking around when I heard loud voices in there. Then I grew curious.” Aera sheepishly confessed, earning a giggle from the housemaid.
She opened the door, and all eyes turned towards her.
“This is Fantasia, a small island that is located next to the Red Queen’s kingdom. But the twist is, this island is enchanted and it is protected by 9 magicians. This island is mostly consists of forests and their protector would be… our first sister, Princess Aretha Anthia.”
SUMMARY ― Aera finds out that she is in Fantasia, an enchanted island where no one could escape easily. There she meets Princess Ariane Aurelia, her youngest sister, and King Aquilles Morian, a father to both of them - who Aera thought were both dead.
CHARACTERS ― Princess Riana Aera/Princess Diana, Queen Aerina (White Queen), Grandma Kim, Zen Alberto, Lim Jaebeom, Mark Tuan, Jackson Wang, Neo Brothers, Princess Ariane Aurelia, King Aquilles Morian (King Morian)
WARNINGS/AUTHOR’S NOTE ― Slight Angst. Morian Princes get their memories of Aera. Prince Jaehyun is in love with Princess Aera. Just A Reminder That Aera Isn’t Dead. Her Body is in Aera while her soul is in Fantasia.
Staring at her lifeless body, he didn’t realise tears were rolling down his own cheek.
“Jaebeom…” Jinyoung softly called, making Jaebeom wipe his own cheeks quickly before turning towards him.
“I was too late..”
“You didn’t know, and we were all cast spells by Aera. That’s why you didn’t react much.” Jinyoung mumbled.
As soon as Grandma Kim erased the spell that was made by Aera to Jackson and Jinyoung, the rest of the Morian Princes automatically were erased too and all of them were in different routes at Aerina’s palace back then.
Flashes of memory began to show in their eyes, and the next thing was their feet lead to where the princess’s body is - Grandma Kim was nice enough to explain what happened to the princess, and all of the Morian Princes were dumbfounded.
Mark and Jaebeom were taking their time to process what had happened.
Jinyoung and Jackson pretty much knew what had happened hence they are emotional as ever.
Youngjae, Bambam and Yugyeom were annoyed with what the princess had done to them - which was erasing their memories of her.
How could she?
Jaebeom scoffed, shaking his head slightly - he too couldn’t believe what was happening.
It’s been a month, it wasn’t just Jaebeom who is trying to get everything in his head.
The whole citizens of Aerina and Morian were as confused as him.
The news of Princess Aera coming back alive from the dead spreaded like hell fire, it even spread to other parts of the world.
With that news, rumors started to spread that the princess could be a zombie, which was ridiculous.
There were even assumptions of the princess coming back alive for vengeance - since all this while people who come from the dead started to seek revenge.
Again which was ridiculous to Jaebeom.
Staring into the princess’s face, Jaebeom couldn’t help but sigh softly, while holding onto her cold hands.
“...Jinyoung, could you turn the fireplace on..? It’s cold..” Jaebeom instructed and the other nodded, following the older one’s instruction.
“I can only blame the weather. Snow.. It’s been more than a decade that we have snow here in Wonderland.” Jinyoung commented at the back, and Jaebeom sighed - still holding onto Aera’s hand.
There was a knock on the door, then revealing a few faces that both Jaebeom and Jinyoung recognized.
They were the Neo Princes, specifically Prince Jaehyun, Prince Taeyong, Prince Jeno and Prince Jaemin.
“Ah.. Prince Jaehyun..” Jaebeom acknowledges as they exchanged bows.
“Do you need more time? We could—
“No, it’s okay. We were about to leave.” Jinyoung cuts the younger one, giving a look towards Jaebeom as he could only nod.
Prince Jaehyun could only nod, again bowing towards the Morian Princes - the other Neo Princes copied the crowned prince’s move.
Once the Morian Princes had completely left, some of them let out a few sighs of relief.
“They always visit her.” Jaemin muttered under his breath, sitting right beside the crowned prince.
“Speak for yourself, Jaemin.” Taeyong commented with a slight smirk. Jaemin’s cheeks showed a slight hint of pink, his eyes changed focus towards the sleeping princess.
“Snow fits in Aerina’s Kingdom, don’t you think?” Jeno suddenly questioned the other princes. Jaemin could only reply by rubbing his hands together - showing Jeno that he is cold.
“Well, other than feeling the extremely cold weather, Aerina’s Kingdom is indeed beautiful covered in snow.” Jaehyun commented, eyes turning towards the princess.
He brushes off some of her hair behind ears, caressing the top part of her head.
This was something that the crowned prince of Neo had always done, and he isn’t afraid of showing or doing this infront of his other brothers.
They knew that the crowned prince had this connection, or Johnny specifically called it a crush which turns to love if the feelings last more than 2 months, with Princess Aera.
Finding out that Diana was disguised as Aera, Jaehyun wasn’t surprised at all.
He still has the same feeling as back then, it’s been more than a few months now.
“I heard from the others, specifically Doyoung and Renjun, that Aerina doesn’t have snow. Well, it’s been a decade, they say.” Jaemin commented, earning nods of acknowledgement from Jeno.
Taeyong could only turn towards the sleeping princess.
Maybe this was all Princess Aera’s doing?
That Aerina finally snowed..?
“....What? So you are saying you want to stay here, trapped on this island!?”
“..I’m not needed there anymore, Riana. Besides, your friends are there as the new rulers of Morian.”
“....... This is the first time that someone has called me by my middle name.”
“Your mother and I used to call you and your sisters by the middle name back then. We did that to protect you and people aren’t too familiar with your middle name rather than your last name.”
“.....Okay.. Okay.. hold on, we don’t use the word ‘ruler’ anymore…. To get back to the right topic, yes they are the appointed princes, but your kingdom needs you. Someone who knows Morian better, and that’s you.”
“I’m not needed anymore, my dear Riana. Even your own mother doesn’t need me, she doesn’t even love me.”
Aera sigh, followed by a cup appearing in front of her - showing someone’s hand.
“That was a loud sigh, my sister.” Aurelia commented as she took a seat next to Aera, a small table and chair located outside the house.
A week after that awkward and emotional discovery, Aurelia came crying on her arm, telling Aera that she thought she was dead.
Their father could only stare at Aera and soon join to have a big welcomed hug to Aera - causing the three of them to have a ‘group cry’.
Aera started to question them on why and where she is currently.
“This is Fantasia, a small island that is located next to the Red Queen’s kingdom. But the twist is, this island is enchanted and it is protected by 9 magicians. This island mostly consists of forests and their protector would be… our first sister, Princess Aretha Anthia.” Aurelia explained slowly for the clueless Aera.
“What do you mean enchanted?”
“Long ago, when your sister was being sent here, we- your mother and I didn’t know that the Red Queen was after the 3 of you. I.. Sooner or later we found out that Aretha was casted a spell by the Red Queen herself.” King Morian, their father confessed and Aera looks at him.
“What did she do to her?”
“She cast a spell on Aretha to stay in the forest for the rest of her life. She can’t get out of the forest, nor this island. Not just her, the 9 magicians too, us, me and dear Ariane.”
“There’s no way she can’t get out. There must be a way out of this.”
“We tried, my sister. We did. Even Anthia had tried many ways along with the 9 magicians but failed… But, we never stop trying!”
“....Have you.. ever thought about me?” Aera muttered, turning slightly towards the young one and Aurelia smiled slightly.
“Every night. I thought.. I thought you were being sent away too, just like how our eldest was being sent away.” Aurelia thought and Aera nodded as she looked away.
“I did…… was sent away.”
Aurelia turned her head towards the older one, eyes widened after hearing what she had said although Aera was whispering.
“....Where?”
“Another universe, far, far, far from here.” Aera muttered and she could hear Aurelia gulp in fear.
“How did you return?”
“....As scary as this may sound… by drowning.”
“...You drowned!?”
Aera could only chuckle, hearing how astonished she sounded.
“That is scary.”
They had this small session where the two sisters would talk about everything and anything for the next few weeks - and according to Aurelia and her father, that’s when Aera learned that she was a bridge between her youngest sister and her older sister, back when they were small.
It seems back when they were just a child, their mother favored their oldest more compared to the youngest.
Hence, their father was more compassionate towards the youngest one.
Aera was just in between, and she liked to do her own things back when she was just a child.
She would always spend time with Jaebeom’s pack.
Smiling to herself, Aera realizes something.
Aurelia is beautiful, more than beautiful.
This is the first time she sees a blonde woman that looks elegant at the same time endearing - well, at first impression, Aurelia had her guard up due to her protecting their father but as they began to know each other with just a few weeks, she began to open up and Aera learns that she is carefree.
Aera could see she takes the trait from their father.
She watches Aurelia basically washing the clothes that they had in the house, right by the small lake before walking to her and deciding to help her.
“So… are you married?” Aurelia turned towards Aera with a wide grin.
It was Aera’s turn to tilt her head while smiling confusingly.
“Married? What makes you say so?”
“Well…. At this age.. You are supposed to be married.”
“And who exactly told you that, young one?” Aera raised her brows amusingly towards Aurelia, seeing her letting out a pout while scrubbing the dresses she is still washing.
“Hmm.. I don’t know… I remember mother told us that she would send us to marry princes.” Aurelia muttered, sounding a little nervous yet scared.
Aera chuckled upon hearing her words.
“Aurelia, we are no longer living in that era, where we must be sent by our parents to be married to someone we don’t even love. Even so, that only happens to form some sort of alliance.”
“Wow, I’m sure it has been a decade there, isn’t it?” Aurelia glanced towards Aera with a smile.
“It sure is, young one.”
And so, the two of them began to continue their chores when all of a sudden, Aera’s focus changed onto the color of the water on her hands.
It surprisingly changes into black, causing her to shriek slightly.
Aurelia on the hand turned towards the cloud, her expression turned sour, knowing what’s going to happen after seeing the water changing its color.
“We have to go, sister.” Aurelia quickly dumped all of the washed clothes into the basket hurriedly. Aera could only look at her in confusion, seeing how rushed she is.
“What? Why—
Aera is cut off by the sound of a wolf’s loud howl, causing Aurelia to turn towards Aera - grabbing the older ones’ arm as they run off.
Then hearing their father’s voice in both of their minds.
‘Ariane! Riana! They are here!’
Aera watches Aurelia grabbing her bow and arrow set and a sword, then handing it towards Aera.
Aurelia caught the look of Aera, knowing her older sister is very confused about what is happening.
“The Red Queen’s knights are coming.” Aurelia whispered and Aera nodded slowly, noticing the sun that was shining brightly out there completely turned to the opposite.
“Why? Is it because of my arrival?” Aera stayed hidden, her back stuck on the walls of the room.
Aurelia shakes her head as a response. “...No. I hope not. I don’t want us to get separated again.”
Aera’s expression softens, hearing the response from her sister.
“...I know you aren’t thinking of going back to Aerina nor Morian, but is there any way for me to get back to Aerina?”
“...Me nor Ariane aren’t a great help, our powers are slowly vanishing due to the negative energy here. You have to seek Aretha. She will be able to help you.”
“..Father, are you really sure about your decision? You don’t have to stay in Morian nor Aerina. You can build a new life there.”
Aurelia was gazing onto Aera’s eyes, noticing that Aera was someone different - although she is her own sister.
She is courageous and after knowing what Aera had done to save others in previous years, Aurelia knows being stuck in here - giving up from going back to her own home isn’t going to help.
Aurelia knows herself she hasn’t given up, but her father did.
The young one out of nowhere grabbed onto Aera’s hand, dragging her out of the room. They went towards the staircase that was leading down - stopping right in front of the stairs.
That’s when Aurelia’s eyes started to glow in white, and Aera caught it.
It was too sudden that another staircase leading up revealed itself.
It wasn’t there all this while!
How..?
Aera turned towards Aurelia with a widened mouth, earning an innocent wide smile from Aurelia as they went upstairs in a hurry.
They were met with a long hallway. Aera was smart enough to realise that there is one door on this floor.
“That door will lead you to the 9 Magicians’ palace. I’m pretty sure they will guide you to our sister. I trust you, you will come back to get us.” Aurelia muttered holding onto Aera’s hand rather tightly and desperately, at the same time handing her a sword - that looked too familiar to her.
She has seen those emblems.
“This must be father’s sword.”
“..One and only. He told me to give it to you, be careful, my beloved sister.” Aurelia muttered, pushing the sword towards Aera’s side.
Soon the younger one sheds a few tears, causing Aera to wipe those tears away.
Aera grabbed Aurelia’s hand, intertwining their fingers - at the same time gripping onto the sword, while looking deep into the young one’s eyes.
“I’ll get all of us out, our father, and even our eldest sister.”
Weeks have passed by, the Neo Princes along with Morian Princes would visit Aera, everyday, time to time.
They were surprised that the princess’s body healed quickly, her body stayed the same as ever.
What is more surprising is that her face changes from pale to having a few colors.
Grandma Kim as well as a few of the other royal housemaids were tending onto the princess’s body, changing the princess’s clothes as an everyday routine.
Once they dressed the princess, the royal housemaids excused themselves when the White Queen entered the room.
“How is she, Grandma?” The White Queen questioned worryingly, while turning towards the sleeping Aera.
“She is fine. Stable for now. I think she made it there.” Grandma Kim muttered under her breath, while trying to read Aera’s mind.
“Huh? What do you mean? Are you saying…?” The White Queen trailed off, frowning while snapping towards the elderly.
“Yes, Aerina. Our princess is in Fantasia, and she has found one of her sisters’.” Grandma Kim announced, her hands were already on top of Aera’s forehead.
The White Queen nodded slowly, her hands were already intertwined with one another in concern.
“...And it seems she has found Morian too.”
“What?” Queen Aerina’s voice sounded taken-aback, eyes searching onto the elderly as she was reading Aera. Her head tilted everywhere.
“I see the youngest, and Aquilles. Your husband, King Aquilles Morian.”
With the mention of the Queen’s late husband's name, her eyes widened twice, not knowing her tears were already rolling on her own cheeks - due to her feeling a mixture of emotion.
“So it’s true then, it was you who saved me and my other brothers.”
SUMMARY ― Neo Castle has been raided by dark knights and Scarlet Witch has shown herself up, this time, her figure had confirmed whether the myths and fairytales were true or just purely a myth.
CHARACTERS ― Princess Riana Aera/Princess Diana, Queen Aerina (White Queen), Grandma Kim, Zen Alberto, Lim Jaebeom, Mark Tuan, Jackson Wang, Park Jinyoung, Choi Youngjae, Bambam, Kim Yugyeom, Neo Brothers
WARNINGS/AUTHOR’S NOTE ― Mention of Being Stab On The Stomach, Ripping Out Heads, A Slightly Long and Angst Chapter!
“Remember, stick to your own groups or partners, and do not engage alone!”
“And for shifters, try not to shift into your wolf form!”
“Are you done?!” I yelled towards Jisung, at the same time slashing ugly, dark at the same scary knight which was flying towards me.
Jisung on the hand was still trying to fight one on one with the dark knight.
Groaning to the never ending battle, I threw my own dagger that I had on my scabbard - perfectly pierced onto the dark knight’s heart, watching it fade to the air while Jisung had his eyes widened twice.
“C’mon!” Grabbing Jisung’s hand, we left the room that we were supposed to clear the dark knights.
We have been stationed in different levels of the castle.
Father gave us the easiest area to clear, the library, and we finally finished our mission.
When we were about to turn a corner, Jisung and I gasped in unison.
More dark knights were seen as they were loitering the hallway.
One of them saw us. Jisung and I turned towards each other with a sigh.
Looks like we are not done.
“Help! Someone he—
Lucas!
I was on the 2nd level, far at the other end while Lucas was right at the opposite along with Xiaojun and Yangyang.
Father had us all separated with our own groups and partners to fight off dark knights that had raided our castle, not just ours according to mother.
Aerina and Morian’s too are being attacked.
Which made me think of Lady Diana.
I made it through the hallways thanks to my enhanced abilities, with me basically stabbing right through their hearts.
By the time I got there, Yangyang had already been by Lucas’s side - seeing him helping Lucas to get up.
“What happened!?” I ran towards Lucas, seeing his face with little cuts.
“I—
We suddenly heard a scream, which Yangyang and I glanced towards each other with a worried look.
⋯ ⋯ ⋯
Exiting through the door from an unknown room of Neo’s castle, Aera quietly shuts the door silently after checking the hallways if there is anyone.
Compared to the rooms and hallways of Aerina’s palace, Neo was far different from Aerina’s.
Everything was dark.
Projecting small bolts, Aera quietly walked the hallway while her backs were sticking to the wall.
This is like a nightmare.
Everything was over the place, there were even scratches on the walls, knowing that it was from the dark knights.
Just then, when Aera was about to turn a corner, she was met by a dark knight causing her to stumble backwards while shooting a big energy blast.
Unfortunately, more dark knights start to appear at once and Aera can’t help but start to run, when she stops at the same time her iris starts to glow more brighter in red.
As soon as Aera turned around, she raised her arms and once she turned her fingers, multiple red energy streams and bolts started to attack each one of the dark knights.
More dark knights started to appear right from above which Aera formed a barrier, causing her to release more energy - making her groan as it slowly turns into a slight yell, trying to shield herself.
At the same time, using her telekinesis, she started to pick up sharp objects that were abandoned on the floor, aiming towards the dark knights chest.
While doing so, she didn’t realize a few people had seen everything.
I heard a yell, but it sounded feminine, not to mention aggressive.
“Do you guys hear that? Is it Ten?” I turned towards Kun, he looked like he was already communicating with Ten using his vampire senses, seeing him frowning in confusion.
Kun met my eyes. “What?”
“....Ten said he and Taeyong already had cleared that hallway.”
I raised my brow while grabbing Kun, our backs were towards the wall while pointing my fingers to my lips.
“If that wasn’t Ten, then who the hell was that?”
Kun covered my mouth, while frowning deeply at the same time pointing towards the direction where we heard the voice.
As we were slowly approaching, we could see red lights glowing more brighter.
Turning towards Kun who had his eyes downcast, I watched him.
He was tilting his head, his frowns becoming deeper and deeper.
“It can’t be.” Kun whispered as he looked at me in the eye.
I tilt my head in confusion, which he decided to stick his head out.
I was about to pull him away when he decided to pull me to join him.
My eyes widened at once to what I was seeing.
…..Princess Aera?
But at the same time, she has the same powers of a scarlet witch.
So the others were right...
“Princess Aera?” I muttered and to both Kun and I’s surprised, she snapped her head towards us, her iris glowing in red, making me gasp really loudly and I could hear Kun gasp too.
My head turned towards the voice while my hands were still controlling the abandoned objects.
I somehow recognize both of them, Hendery and Kun.
Clenching my jaw, I decided to end everything by putting out as much energy out as I could and instantly, an energy blast off from my hand, destroying each one of the dark knights in this level.
Sighing slightly, my focus turned towards the two men.
They look frozen.
“...Hello, gentlemen…” I awkwardly greeted them and Kun instantly bowed, while tugging Hendery’s arm for him to bow too.
“No… please…” My hands were already stopping them, I could tell that they are still in shock.
Their eyes were a given.
“So it’s true then, it was you who saved me and my other brothers.” Hendery stated in a whisper, a smile forming on his lips - causing me to smile slightly.
I turned towards Kun with a smirk. “So, what’s really going on here?”
“I seriously want to shift and rip out these assholes hearts!”
“No, Johnny! Remember what father said!” Taeil warned the younger one while personally ripping out the dark knight’s head, then stabbing its heart before running towards Johnny’s dark knight to rip out its heart too.
Taeil turned towards the taller one, seeing his eyes turned yellow in anger.
“Johnny, calm down.”
Meanwhile, Taeyong and Jaehyun were fighting with dark knights, back to back while Yuta, Doyoung, Ten, and Winwin were busy handling a group of dark knights on their own.
“Can someone check on the young ones!?”
“Doyoung! We are busy with our own dark knights too!” Yuta yelled since they were a part away.
They didn’t notice that their castle was slowly being destroyed, until an explosion was heard causing most of their attention towards where it came from.
Yuta turned towards Ten, who too had his eyes widened as they turned towards Taeyong who had his attention to the castle, with eyes that looked heartbroken while Jaehyun was busy stepping onto one of the dark knight’s chest harshly.
Taeyong gulped as he turned towards his 3 vampire brothers.
“I think the 3 of you should check out what had exploded. The rest and I will take care of these assholes.”
⋯ ⋯ ⋯
“So, you took a few weeks to study history?”
“....Yes, Kun. I’m embarrassed but I’m not as clever as whatever that was written in the storybooks.”
“I can relate. Me and Yangyang aren’t fond of histories.”
“My brothers and I could teach you, you know.” Kun offered and Aera chuckled to his words, her smiles soften while facing the both of them.
“I don’t think you will be seeing me again.”
Wow, Aera, what a liar.
Hendery frowned at her words while Kun looks surprised.
“Why..? But, princess, there is so much to see..!” Hendery whines slightly, and Aera’s eyes went downcast.
Kun noticed her expression, causing him to nudge on Hendery’s arm, glaring the younger one slightly since he is being insensitive.
The princess had gone through a lot!
Hendery’s head lowered down in embarrassment. “S-sorry.”
“It’s okay. It would be nice to stay, but I can’t.” Aera informed, letting out a small sad smile.
As they were about to run down the stairs, a sudden explosion was heard, at the same time concretes were being thrown here and there which were coming from the walls of the castles.
Aera quickly shielded both Kun and Hendery although they were thrown to different areas.
Groaning because of the impact on how she fell, Aera flew towards where Kun and Hendery were, seeing they were on the floor as she helps them to stand up.
As Aera was helping Kun up, she noticed his troubled expression.
He turned towards her.
“..I think my brothers are in trouble..”
It was like a never ending war, that’s what I feel.
I can’t believe we are facing a second raid.
The first one was like 500 years ago, and the ones who had participated in the raid were the older ones and for the first time, the younger ones had joined too.
Jungwoo, Renjun, Haechan, Jaemin and I were literally on the rooftop fighting dark knights when all of a sudden an area of the rooftop started to fall apart at the same time explosions were heard.
“Jaemin!” Jungwoo’s yell made me run where both of them were supposed to be at, I didn’t even think for a second to shift into my wolf form before jumping down to get both of them.
I could hear Jaemin groaning while trying to get off my back, then trying to stand right beside me while one of his hands was holding onto his ribcage.
“...I think I just broke one of my rib cages and why did you shift!? Father told us not to!” Jaemin nagged and I let out a huff of air on my nose towards him before shifting back.
“Do you want me to have multiple broken rib cages? Just for jumping down?”
“At least you broke them for me.” Jaemin smirked as he flirts, causing me to gag.
“Let go of me, you ugly monster!”
“Let me go!”
Both Jaemin and I turned towards where the voices came from.
The cloudy air that was surrounding us the whole time started to fade, to reveal a figure and I immediately shielded Jaemin, with me standing in front of him, hands spread out.
“Well, well, well. Look who it is. Lee Jeno and Na Jaemin.”
What’s worse, he wasn’t alone.
He had Renjun and Haechan as hostages, holding them by the collar up high as their bodies were being lifted.
“Zorander Evilian.” Jaemin hissed.
Zorander Evilian, he is one of the Red Queen’s followers, the leader of the dark knights.
Probably the 2nd strongest aside of the Red Queen.
Tall, taller than most of us, taller than Johnny, body armed with armor that looks like a million years old and stains of blood could be seen on his armor.
What's scary to others, is that he has horns on his head and his eyes are black, as if he has no soul at all.
He has killed massacre by massacre, in just a span of a month with his long, powerful spear that shoots out black blasts.
He is everyone’s nightmare, from infants, children, elderlies, and the royals.
But because we were taught to be strong, taught to have no fear of these evil creatures, my brothers weren’t scared of him.
“Where is she?” Zorander Evilian asked towards us, his voice sounding confident as ever. I frowned at his question, because I was confused.
Jaemin too.
“Who is she?” Jaemin questioned, his head bop towards the monster.
Zorander laughed and echoed the whole area, as a result of some of my brothers coming towards us but stopped as soon as they saw Renjun and Haechan being taken as hostages.
“Don’t play dumb, sons of Aristons. You know I could kill both of your brothers in just a second.” He teased, both Jaemin and I grew tense as well as the air.
Not just both of us, even my other brothers grew tense, especially Taeyong and Jaehyun.
I was just about to reply to him when Zorander’s focus turned behind where Jaemin and I were, even Haechan and Renjun expressions seemed like they were frozen.
Following where they were looking at, I turned backwards to see Hendery and Kun basically standing on top of a roof, but he wasn’t alone.
My eyes squinted, before frowning at what I saw.
Jaemin even gasps beside me.
“Is that...Princess Aera?”
⋯ ⋯ ⋯
“That’s him.”
“He is ugly as hell.” Aera whispered to Kun, hearing a slight giggle from Hendery.
They were watching the conversation between Jeno and Jaemin and the enemy she was facing, Zorander Evilian.
According to Kun and Hendery, this monster is twice stronger, twice powerful and twice brutal.
They said he had killed kingdoms by kingdoms, back when they weren’t even born yet, even Aera herself isn’t born yet.
As soon as Aera waved her fingers slightly, a small red blast floating through her hands, she could see Zorander Evilian’s gaze turned towards where she was at the same time hearing Kun’s and Hendery’s sharp breath.
Aera has seen this coming, with Johnny, Yuta, Doyoung, Lucas and Jungwoo jumping to the monster while the young ones had quickly taken Renjun and Haechan far from him.
But their strength couldn’t beat Zorander, as he single-handedly pushed them off from him and he shot out a black blast towards Aera causing her to quickly shield Kun and Hendery at the same time throwing them to the ground safely.
Unfortunately, Aera had taken the blast as she was busy caring about the two boys.
She was thrown to the ground with a slight force but she was still fine, aside from feeling the ache on her back.
Groaning slightly, Aera quickly stood up to already see Zorander flying towards her, pointing his spear towards her and Aera decided to make a barrier, as she slowly built up more energy, making the barrier to get bigger.
She was literally face to face with him.
“...Princess Riana Aera? How fascinating. So the Red Queen is right, you are the Scarlet Witch.” In her ears, he sounded like every villain in the non-magic world, which irritated her.
Aera’s head tilted slightly, with her iris glowing bright red.
“Ugly as hell.” With Aera’s words, she projected out energy blasts and streams from the side, causing Zorander to flew side-ways.
She even tossed random objects from trees, concrequetes, soiled shaped knives.
Aera thought that she would end him today, but the worst is yet to come when he flew right through the air then flying towards Aera just a second, before grabbing her through the air and tossing her down the ground with huge force.
The ground suddenly shakes, causing our horses to lose balance but we managed to pull it through.
“What the hell was that!?”
“I don’t know!”
“...Please don’t tell me we are too late!”
Jaebeom and the rest were on our way to Neo Kingdom, after finding out that the Red Queen’s followers were heading towards Neo Kingdom.
We were just about to reach there, and Mark was about to shoot out an arrow towards the enemy when he lowered down the bow.
‘Why didn’t you shoot?!’ Jackson said in his voice of thoughts, causing the others to follow where he is looking at.
To see a figure on the floor.
A lady on the floor, with red mist surrounding her.
My eyes squinted, then to hear a loud gasp from Yugyeom and an ‘omg’ from Bambam.
“Is that… It can’t be!” Jinyoung said out loud, he too had his bow lowered down.
By then, everyone had the same answer.
“Aera.”
Jackson suddenly shot out an arrow towards Zorander, which he perfectly caught it on his hands even if his focus were towards Aera, his spear pointing towards her.
That’s when we decided to shoot out endless arrows towards him.
I can’t believe what I am really seeing.
I didn’t know Princess Aera is the Scarlet Witch.
It was all a myth, a fairy-tale which my younger brothers were so fascinated about, especially the Dreamies.
But now it seems that, that was the opposite of a myth now.
We were trying our best to stop Zorander with all our might but we were always being thrown to the side and we are grateful that Princess Aera had mostly shielded us, although she had to focus on Zorander.
But we quickly paused, after seeing Morian’s arrows, turning towards where it came from to see Prince Jaebeom and other princes, shooting out endless arrows to only Zorander perfectly caught their arrows.
“Jaehyun, we should do something.” Doyoung suddenly came to me while looking towards Princess Aera who was on the ground, along with Taeil and Johnny.
The others were still trying to grab Zorander in anyway but the same happened as well, with them being thrown harshly to the side.
The Dreamies, including Lucas were extremely restless and it was the first for me to see how mad and furious they were, especially Jeno and Jaemin.
It’s been years I have seen them this worked up.
What’s strange is that they were taking turns on trying to distract Zorander.
Maybe because Princess Aera, the one who has saved and helped them before, were being attacked.
Looking towards Doyoung and the others, I smirked, kind of admiring the Dreamies determination.
“Let’s follow whatever the Dreamies are planning.”
⋯ ⋯ ⋯
My head hurts, what’s worse my back feels like I have carried a huge weight behind me.
Aera’s eyes slowly opened, with blurred vision of a figure walking towards her but soon, her vision focused to see Zorander, and a few faces trying to pull him away but they failed.
She tried to stand up but she could feel a hand grabbing her by the neck, as she was lifted up while feeling the grip on her throat getting stronger, as she chokes on air.
“Goodbye, Princess—
Out of a sudden, Zorander was being shot by an arrow right through his chest, then being pushed harshly by a figure.
“Haechan! No!” An aggressive yell was heard from Mark, everything happened just at once and Aera heard multiple screams of horror before seeing what they were shouting at.
Zorander’s spear pierced through Haechan’s stomach and it was too late for her to rewind everything, that’s when she felt anger slowly forming on her chest.
Her eyes glowed in bright red, this time it was as if beams could be shot through her eyes, as she floated through the air with beams of red energy on both of her hands before shooting strong beams towards Zorander.
She shot endless energy blasts, and she didn’t even realize that the blast she got from Zorander had her have wounds on her body, she didn’t even realize that she had a nose bleed.
The last shot Aera gave to Zorander, had a mix of white and black hues and anyone can see that the blast was a powerful one.
Aera even let out a few incantations before shooting at him that had him flying up the sky and he suddenly disappeared.
Aera’s ears were then filled with heavy sobs and cries, knowing it was coming from the Neo Brothers. Once she reached the grounds, Aera ran towards where a group of boys were huddling.
They could already sense Aera, turning towards her to see her limping at the same time running towards where they were.
She immediately sat on her knees, eyes scanning through the boy who was breathing rather rapidly while holding onto Renjun and Mark’s hands.
“...It’s too late.” Someone said beside her, revealed to be Ten.
“No..” She muttered, before quickly putting her palm near Haechan’s opened wound which was on his stomach that looked very severe.
Her fingers started to make a wave, and little red waves were moving on Haechan’s tan skin, red looking stitches started to stitch Haechan’s wounds.
At the same time, Haechan started to whimper in pain due to the stitches, causing Jaehyun and Taeyong to try to hold onto his hands to support him.
The others were looking at Aera in awe and worryingly, seeing that her nose was bleeding non-stop while she was wiping it every second, not caring about her own damage.
Once Haechan’s wounds were magically stitched up, Aera’s palm went towards his forehead, releasing a few red energy, then seeing Haechan’s eyes slightly open.
Taeil noticed this.
She is trying to ease his pain.
Just when Aera is about to stand up, her legs somehow gave up and immediately she was in someone's arms, not one, but two on both of her sides.
She then realised it was Jeno and Jaemin. She quickly pushed herself away from them, to see both Jeno and Jaemin's faces fell.
She had to, she didn’t want to get attached.
Walking backwards while smiling weakly towards, Aera then faced her back towards them while her hands were covering her wounded arm.
“Aera!” A voice called, and Aera knew who it was.
She didn’t even bother to even look at them, knowing that it was Jaebeom and the others.
Before they could reach her, Aera had already flown up to the air, her head glancing down at them.
Eyes glowing in bright red, while one of her hands had red blasts to support her up.
‘Don’t bother to follow me.’
That was Aera’s voice of thoughts to the one who could hear, before flying right to a random direction, leaving the others speechless on the ground.
“Okay.. So why would you allow her to always attend all the events that are involved with Aera but not Juno? It’s not fair at all. Juno is family, she isn’t.”
SUMMARY ― Stepping foot into a new era in Wonderland and the White Queen along with Grandma Kim has given strict rules regarding hiding her fake identity, Aera has been forced to study new rules and protocols of the new era, on other hand the 7 princes are busy preparing for a parade that is related to the late princess of Morian.
CHARACTERS ― Princess Riana Aera/Princess Diana, Aerina (The White Queen), Grandma Kim, Zen Alberto, Lim Jaebeom, Bambam, Yugyeom, Iris
WARNINGS/AUTHOR’S NOTE ― introducing Zen Alberto, royal butler of Aerina’s Kingdom and Iris, Morian Kingdom’s royal gardener and Youngaje’s girlfriend! Oh.. and Larisa.. Jaebeom’s current girlfriend. More characters would be introduced in future chapters! (also Zen, was inspired by Zain of Be My Princess butler) and Diana is inspired from Wonder Woman!!
‘It doesn’t hurt to roam around the castle right?’
Aera quietly exited her old room that Grandma Kim had guided her to.
Both Grandma Kim and The White Queen decided to give some time for the princess who had just returned to the Kingdom of Aerina in surprise.
It’s been a few days and feeling bored, Aera decided to sneak out.
She decided to avoid going to the 1st floor where it is the main level which Grandma Kim and The White Queen had shown her around.
She was rather curious with the 3rd level and 4th level.
Quietly going up, she was met by hallways on both sides but what caught her eyes were, there were doors and numerous portraits which showed different kinds of events happening.
Walking down the hallway, Aera realizes those were portraits of what had happened a few years ago.
Also there were portraits of other royal families that she couldn’t recognize.
As she went deeper down the hallway, Aera smiled to herself as she gazes into the big portrait of her as well as the 7 of her childhood friends together.
She could still remember that day where she had to force Jackson and Bambam to sit down since they were being hyper that day.
Smiling to herself as she remembered the bittersweet memories, Aera glanced towards the other portraits where it was individual pictures of the 8 of them.
Aera goes to each one of the portraits, reading their names and description with a small smile.
Her footsteps suddenly stopped at her own portrait, her eyes glancing towards the description.
‘The Deceased Crown Princess Riana Aera of the Kingdom of Morian and Aerina.
"That's the deceased Crown Princess Aera. Beautiful isn't she?" The gentleman commented as he stood beside her, glancing towards the portrait with a proud smile.
Aera already knew his presence when she was reading one of the information of a portrait.
She knew he meant no harm since he has been standing there, up-right, while watching her rather openly.
".....She is." Aera muttered, as her gaze went downcast as she turned towards the mysterious, gorgeous gentleman.
She sees his expression, she could feel his emotions very clearly.
He is feeling sentimental and longing and this made Aera to gaze towards his side-profile.
She couldn’t recognize who he is - it’s been a thousand years and she wasn’t surprised if this gorgeous man in front was a new addition to the royal family.
Gorgeous to Aera, because he has slick black hair and although his right bangs covered his eyes slightly, he has bright green eyes and his eyes shaped like an almond, and fair skin.
He wasn’t just gorgeous, he was glowing in her eyes.
Judging from what he wears, it was not easy to guess if he is from a royal or noble family.
Feeling Aera’s gaze, he faced Aera as he met with her eyes, causing him to become slightly flustered - he quickly bowed 90 degrees.
“I’m so sorry, Princess Diana! It’s rude of me to stare at you, please forgive me.” He apologized rather hurriedly, his head still facing down.
“Urgh… Same goes to me…? For staring at you, I guess. I’m sorry too. I’m just amazed at how gorgeous you look. I’m not surprised if you came from a noble family or a royal.” Aera joked at the end, earning a reaction from the man in front of her.
His reaction showed that he isn’t what she had described.
“Y-you’re not from the royal family?” Aera catches his reaction as he again shakes his head with a shy smile.
“Allow me to introduce myself, your highness. My name is Zen Alberto, a royal butler for Aerina’s royal household.” Zen introduced rather politely yet elegantly.
‘His face seems familiar, I swear I have seen him somewhere,’
“Nice to meet you, Zen… I guess Queen Aerina had asked you to find me since you are here?”
“Yes, princess. I’m happy that she told me about your arrival as soon as possible because for the first time, I didn’t get any news from your side upon your arrival.” Zen frowns slightly, letting out a small sigh before taking out his pocket watch.
Interestingly, Aera saw a glimpse of an old looking picture right beside the ticking clock.
Again feeling her gaze, Zen quickly closed the pocket watch flusteredly.
“Your lover?” Aera innocently questioned, again making Zen to be flustered.
Aera would notice that he gets flustered with her answers.
‘Did I accidentally say that out loud? Or did I make him uncomfortable? God, get a grip Aera!’
“N-no, no, your highness! It’s nothing! Please follow my lead. Her majesty and Grandma Kim are waiting for you for the tea session,” Zen informed before leading the confused Aera, as she could only shrug while following the butler’s orders.
As they exited the castle, Aera’s eyes went wide after seeing the morning scenery.
Just like in fairy tales, she could already see birds flying around and she could hear chirping sounds from them, also seeing modern cars driving around as she looked down the huge steps.
“Diana! Over here!” The White Queen called happily, earning Aera’s attention as she saw the White Queen and Grandma Kim sitting on a table while holding onto classy tea-cups.
There were also cute cupcakes being placed on the table.
“Your majesty, Princess Diana is here.” Zen bowed towards the White Queen as she nodded with a huge smile.
“Thank you, Alberto. Diana, I’m sure you have met Alberto. He is our official head butler in this royal household. His skills make all the royal household butlers and all the helpers look up to him,” The White Queen praised Zen proudly, as he could only hang his head slightly low in the flusteredness of the Queen praising him.
‘..They call him Alberto...This is embarrassing. I should have been more polite.’
Grandma Kim, who was sipping her tea, puts down her cup.
“Not only that, Alberto is well known for his handsome looks. Our female servants here would always trip whenever Alberto came to do work here. Right, Alberto?” Grandma Kim questioned the butler rather teasingly, as he could only chuckle.
“I’m afraid I have to somehow disagree with your opinions, your majesty, Grandma Kim. I’m just a butler. Please excuse me, your majesty, Grandma Kim, and Princess Diana. I’m afraid I have to settle documents that had to be done by today. Till then, please call me if you are in need of assistance.” informed Zen as he bowed towards the 3 ladies, as he quickly left them.
After sensing that he had completely left, Aera sighed loudly as she joined them for tea - earning an amused reaction from both of the older ones.
They watched Aera’s movement, from the way she picked up the cup, how she handled the tea kettle, pouring the tea onto her cup then to the way she drinks the tea.
“Oh, Aera. It’s as if time hasn’t been stopped.” The White Queen muttered to herself with adoration as she watched her daughter drinking slowly. Grandma Kim on the other hums as she turned towards The White Queen.
“Aerina, I think you need to send the princess to royal training.”
With Grandma Kim’s words, Aera can’t help but spit her tea.
“What!? Royal training?! I thought I had already done that thousand years ago when I was a child!”
“Exactly my point, princess. That was a thousand years ago. Things have changed since you were gone, Aera. As you can see previously, there were no such things as cars back then.” Grandma Kim reasoned out, and even if Aera were to fight her back, the elderly was right in the end.
“Things are slowly going modern. Even Aerina and I aren’t used to it yet, seeing cars passing by, girls wearing heels and dresses that aren't as thick as thousand years ago.” Grandma Kim added with a sentimental smile, earning a small sigh from the White Queen.
“I think Grandma Kim is right, Aera. There are new protocols, not just here - other kingdoms too. I think it’s beneficial for you.” advised The White Queen softly, caressing Aera’s hair.
“And since you are under Princess Diana’s figure, you really need to act as a princess of this new era,” Grandma Kim added, earning a loud sigh from Aera as she could only nod to both of the older ones.
Not wanting to talk about royal training, Aera decided to change the topic.
“So... how long Zen has worked here? He doesn’t look new to me. I mean, although he wears a very extravagant suit, he doesn’t look like a butler.” Aera questioned as she was looking at the scenery right ahead, not knowing the reactions from The White Queen And Grandma Kim.
They were taken-aback with her unique question.
Grandma Kim could only snort while the White Queen smiled warmly.
“...You’ll figure it out yourself, Aera. Now, Aerina has duties to full-fill and you, princess, are coming with me regarding your royal-noble training!”
“Oh c’mon! Give me a break!”
“The reason why you have to start your training immediately is, a parade will be held 3 weeks time by the neighboring princes!”
“What parade!? And why does it concern me anyway?!”
“Quit asking questions and start reading, lady!”
“And it’s just 3 weeks, what’s the rush?”
“Again, you’ll figure it out,”
It was weird that Grandma Kim was being secretive, what’s even worse is that she was being told to figure it out herself.
Aera knew they had a reason and knowing that one day the truth would eventually come out to her.
“What a timing to arrive here,” muttered Aera as she was reading the 10th book that was given by Grandma Kim.
Aera’s eyes glanced towards the remaining books as she groaned in frustration while disheveling her hair.
She can’t believe that she is being ordered to read books that were related to what had happened to both Aerina and Morian in the span of thousands of years.
She was also being forced to read the new protocols as well as the old protocols of both noble and royal households.
According to Grandma Kim, during the thousand years span, Aerina's kingdom was populated with non-magic and non-shifters beings - hence there was a protocol where magic/shifters aren't allowed to use as the sun rises.
And what she had learned so far is that there were other creatures here. Other than wolves, there are vampires - which was a first for Aera.
Adding on, there were more non-magic, non-creature royal and noble families in this era.
Interestingly, Aera had also learned that there were more kingdoms other than Morian and Aerina. One of the famous kingdoms would be Neo Kingdom which Aera still didn’t look into more specifically.
Reading wasn’t a liking for Aera and she definitely regrets the choices she made previously when she was in Wonderland.
‘I should have listened to Jinyoung years ago,’
As Aera was flipping the books, she stopped at a page, which made her sentimental.
It was a page on how the 7 princes became together, on how they were formed, and now they were called the 7 princes - there was also a picture of them, walking around the street.
‘I wonder how are they, they must be busy ruling in Morian,’
As she turned the next page, it was regarding how the pack was formed where Aera decided to make her as well as her 7 childhood friends as the guardian for Morian Kingdom and forest, and as she continued, her smile faded to a sad one.
“It seems they stepped down,” Aera muttered to herself, it was stated on the page that ‘The 7 Princes stepped down to be come the protector of the forest ever since the death of Princess Aera, as they decided to focus on the royal household and the kingdom’.
With that, Aera decided to close the book due to her not being able to focus - she could only recall her bittersweet memories.
“Princess Diana?”
A voice made Aera turn towards where it came from, to see Zen pushing a meal cart with different plates of food and some beverages, as he quietly placed it on the table.
“...This is a lot… and this is a library, Zen….. I feel bad for troubling you.” Aera commented, as Zen stopped his hand movement as he was pouring out tea onto her cup.
“Do not feel bad, your highness. It’s my job after-all and Queen Aerina along with Grandma Kim said it is fine to eat in the library since this is owned by Princess Aera. They said the late princess allowed food and drinks here. Also, Queen Aerina and Grandma Kim are worried about you,” said Zen as he stood in front of Aera, his face didn’t show any embarrassment compared from before.
‘....Right… There is so much I have to know and learn....’
Aera clears her throat. “Why.. exactly they are worried?”
“You have been here for almost a day without taking lunch, dinner, later dinner and supper, your highness.”
Aera widened her eyes as she turned towards her books then towards Zen, flustered.
“....So you’re telling me.. I have been here the whole time…?” Aera repeated, earning a nod from Zen. This time, she could see him frowning slightly.
“R-right. I’ll finish up while eating. Thank you for your services, Zen. I really appreciate it,” Aera thanked the butler, as he bowed towards Aera without saying a word, not knowing he would steal little glances towards her as she focuses back on her books.
As she finishes the last book, Aera manages to count the days that she has been staying in Wonderland.
It was almost a week she had finished all the books that Grandma Kim had told her to read and memorize - staying up all nights just to finish them as soon as possible.
“I should take a break,” Aera muttered to herself and coincidentally, as she was about to lay down her head, she heard a knock on the door - causing her to groan while walking towards the door.
There reveals Grandma Kim and The White Queen, who are wearing a hooded cloak that makes them look more suspicious.
“..Grandma? Mother? Look I have finished all the books—
“We’re not here for that! C’mon!” Grandma Kim pulled Aera along the way, as the 3 of them quietly yet hurriedly ran down the stairs along the dark hallway while the White Queen put on a cloak onto Aera, to avoid royal household servants to see her face.
Aera forgets to mention that it was half past 2 midnight and clearly, everyone is asleep.
They ran across the courtyard, passing through the throne room and they ran to an end where there was a statue of Goddess Athena that looked old and dusty.
Aera was about to speak up when the White Queen cups onto the statue’s neck, and to her surprise, the statue moved by itself, then to reveal a door - which Grandma Kim didn’t hesitate to twist the door open to see flickered lights down the stairs.
“Let’s hurry.” The White Queen whispered, while looking around at the same time urging Aera to hurry down before anyone realizes their presence.
With Grandma Kim’s guidance, Aera followed behind the elderly and that’s when her eyes wandered around the room - which she figured out to be a treasure room, seeing gold and silvers laying around the room.
But what caught her attention is another statue, which looked exactly like her.
As she walked nearer towards it, her eyes focused onto the treasure box in front of the statue - she didn’t hesitate to open the treasure to reveal all sorts of armors, bow and arrow, and dresses.
“..We decided to store all of your belongings that you previously had in your room..” The White Queen explained at the back, as Aera was digging through the box, to find her old clothes, the clothes where she wore to go for wars - lastly, she found her tiara.
Aera frowned slightly as she was holding onto her golden armor, turning towards Grandma Kim and The White Queen.
“My sword and my horn, they are missing,” said Aera in puzzlement. Grandma Kim frowned towards The White Queen.
“The sword… and the horn has been kept in Morian safely, under their care.” The White Queen explained, walking towards Aera, following her daughter’s gaze.
Not minding their answers, Aera closes the treasure box.
For now, she only needs her armor and tiara. But deep down, she knew she needed her sword.
“Oh, and I have kept something for you,” The White Queen holds onto Aera’s hand, revealing a ring, a ring that was embroidered with golden rose petals, on her palm.
Her eyes widened slightly, taking the locket first then the ring from her mother’s hands
“Do you remember who it was from?” The White Queen questioned softly, observing her daughter’s expression, that shows softness in her face.
Aera nodded to her question. “It was a gift from Jaebeom…. I remember Jackson too, gave me a necklace which I had with me since then.”
“A confession gift?” Grandma Kim questioned from the back, in an amusing voice, causing Aera to frown while turning towards the elderly.
“No, Grandma. Just… a simple gift,” Aera dead-panned while taking the locket as she puts it on. Aera was about to put on the ring when the White Queen stopped her, her palm cupping onto Aera’s.
Aera looked up towards the White Queen, to see her expression turned hesitant.
“I think it isn’t advisable to wear the ring. Others might notice that you are the princess… if you still want to keep your presence hidden,” The White Queen advised softly, and Aera decided to follow the Queen’s words, as she detached the ring from her finger.
Aera shrugs as she puts the ring inside her pajama pocket, smiling to the White Queen and Grandma Kim. There was a soft smile formed from the Queen, as she caressed Aera’s hair while looking at her in adoration.
‘There is so much that you have to know, my princess. So much has changed and I am afraid that you will find difficulty on catching up with whatever that had happened,’
“Jaebeom, we should include the celebration of Mark and Jackson’s return plus Princess Aera’s 1,000 anniversary! Wouldn’t it be more fun?!” Bambam offered his idea excitedly to Jaebeom who was reading a few papers as both of them were walking down the stairs.
“I agree with Bambam. It will be fun and the funds could be reduced!” Yugyeom added, following the 2 of them behind which made Jaebeom to stop at his tracks all of a sudden.
Putting the papers aside, Jaebeom looked towards Bambam and Yugyeom.
“...I’ll take the consideration of your ideas but, I think we should focus on Aera’s parade since we will be doing it in Aerina’s Kingdom. We wouldn’t want to disappoint the White Queen and Jinyoung nagging us out,” Jaebeom answered carefully, earning cheerful reactions from Bambam and Yugyeom.
Truthfully, Jaebeom has been planning out the parade for the citizens of both Morian and Aerina’s Kingdom, and he would be sending out his finalized plan to Jinyoung and he would directly send it to the White Queen’s side.
Jinyoung has been nagging Jaebeom and the others regarding the preparation, and they would sometimes end up arguing due to some of the members being perfectionists.
“...Are you bringing the girls with you?” Bambam questioned curiously, and Jaebeom nodded as he turned towards Yugyeom.
"Speaking of the girls, Yugyeom, you should see how the harem is. See how well they practiced, and if they are in need of clothes or dresses for that day, immediately turn to Jinyoung. He will settle it from there. Don't hesitate to ask Youngjae for help too," Jaebeom instructed the youngest as Yugyeom could only nod.
“....And Jaebeom, is Juno coming along?” Yugyeom decided to ask the question that he was bugging to ask. He really wants Jaebeom’s son to celebrate together. After-all, it is a memorable experience for Juno since he is growing up each day.
“No.” Jaebeom simply answered as he continued to walk, earning a deep frown from both Bambam and Yugyeom.
“What!? Hold on! Why not?!” Bambam questioned flusteredly, following Jaebeom’s footsteps.
“Because he will cause trouble, just like you Bambam,”
“But Juno is just a kid, Jaebeom. All kids cause trouble, even Bambam,” Yugyeom answered half-jokingly, earning a confused look from Bambam as he turned towards Yugyeom and Jaebeom.
“Okay.. So why would you allow her to always attend all the events that are involved with Aera but not Juno? It’s not fair at all. Juno is family, she isn’t,” asked Bambam in a not so happy tone, frowning towards Jaebeom.
Bambam meant Jaebeom’s current girlfriend, Larisa Erida, known as the daughter of the richest, noblest family of Erida.
The Erida’s are the most respected family, even though they are just a noble family - that’s because the family is negatively known to be and most royal families aren’t too fond of them.
Especially Aerina’s Kingdom since they had said a few comments about the late princess years ago, causing the White Queen’s royal household to have bad blood with the Erida’s.
The 7 Princes of Morian Kingdom are aware of this but Bambam and Yugyeom were confused on why Jaebeom’s love interest is the daughter of Erida's.
Bambam, as well as the other 5 princes, thinks that she is a spoiled, arrogant, bratty and a selfish girl.
Jaebeom sighed, before turning towards the 2 of them.
“Larisa is my girlfriend, so she is considered family. Juno is my son, he is also family but I can’t risk it. He needs to stay hidden for the sake of his safety. Now, will you two excuse me, I have a job to settle,” Jaebeom explained rather harshly, before leaving the 2 youngest in astonishment.
Watching the leader walking away completely, Yugyeom scoffs while Bambam sighed in disappointment.
“Girlfriend? More like someone ordering him like a dog. He is insane,” Yugyeom muttered to himself, as Bambam could only pat his best friend's back in an attempt to calm the youngest down.
“Well, we can’t say much. At least the two of us aren’t the only one who hates her. Everyone here in this castle despises her, even Mark, Jackson and Jinyoung hate her to the point where Jackson would escape to a party which we know Jackson never escapes parties.” Bambam commented, earning nods from Yugyeom in agreement.
“You don’t need to say about Youngjae. He always ends up in the garden, attending to his plants. He didn’t even care about Larisa’s presence. Youngjae only has eyes for Iris,” Yugyeom added with a slight giggle as he mentioned Iris and Youngjae together.
As they were walking along the hallways, they saw a hurried figure running towards both of their ways.
“Oh! It’s Iris! Speaking of our cute gardener!” Bambam said cheekily, watching the girl running towards their way in a hurry.
“You look like you have been chased. What happened?” Yugyeom questioned while looking towards where Iris came from.
“Prince Bambam, Prince Yugyeom! It’s Prince Youngjae! He needs to see the two of you!”
Both Bambam and Yugyeom turned towards each other before following the royal gardener in a hurry.
“Diana.. Why are there guards from Morian’s Kingdom?”
SUMMARY ― Aera took the Neo Brothers out to Aerina’s Kingdom not knowing they would be seeing a certain people.
CHARACTERS ― Princess Riana Aera/Princess Diana, Queen Aerina (White Queen), Grandma Kim, Zen Alberto, Lim Jaebom, Mark Tuan, Jackson Wang, Park Jinyoung, Choi Youngjae, Bambam, Kim Yugyeom, Neo Brothers
The younger one pouted, glancing towards Jaehyun who was in Taeyong’s room along with some of the other older ones, which were Ten and Johnny.
“But we will just be going to the gardens! It’s not that far!” Chenle added, since he was standing right beside Haechan. They weren’t the only ones there.
Right outside Taeyong, Yuta and Kun’s room, Doyoung, Lucas and Hendery quietly had their backs placed to the walls. They too wanted to come along.
Ten had sensed some of them, along with Jaehyun as he had raised brows towards the two young ones.
They had read Jaehyun’s thoughts, hearing multiple sighs from the others as they revealed themselves.
“Okay, fine. They aren’t the only ones who wanted to go.” Doyoung stated, revealing himself.
“C’mon, Jaehyun! It’s just a few walks away!” Lucas whines, towards the older one who could only turn towards Taeyong. He already had his arms crossed.
“Why are you guys so fascinated with the garden anyway?” Johnny questioned curiousedly.
“That’s because—
“I think I can answer that for you.”
Everyone literally turned towards the feminine voice, to see Aera basically leaning against the wall, just beside Doyoung - causing him to shriek and Aera automatically covering his mouth.
“Holy crap. Princess! How on— How did you get here quietly, again!?” Doyoung whines, as soon as Aera releases her hands from his mouth, his hands placed on his chest.
“Well, your highnesses are having a very serious conversation so— Oh! Hi Johnny! Prince Ten, Prince Jaehyun, Prince Taeyong.” Aera sticks her head into the room, to see Johnny and the other three of them.
She was casual with Johnny but soon she became polite with the other three.
“That’s not fair! You should be casual with us too! I mean— me. I don’t mind!” Ten frowns, seeing the interaction between Aera and Johnny, as the taller one replied with a ‘hey’ and a wide smile.
Aera tilts her head slightly, now fully showing herself as she leans against the door.
“Really? I mean, I heard Neo Kingdom is the strictest kingdom out of the three.” Aera raised her brow towards Taeyong and Jaehyun. They were taken aback by how she discovered Neo’s old protocols.
“..You are right but the protocol has changed slowly, thanks to the young ones.” Taeyong turns his head towards the young ones who were standing right behind her, seeing their innocent smiles.
She can’t help but giggle to see their expression.
“If you say so then. Friends it is.”
“I think you should consider all of us as friends, princess. I mean, you have helped us.” said Johnny at the back, with Ten nodding his head.
Jaehyun on the other hand was quietly watching the interactions between Aera and the others, somehow he felt a slight jealousy with how open she is with the others, but when it comes to him, she was being very careful.
“So, what’s the occasion?” Aera looked towards the others and that’s when Haechan, Chenle and Lucas decided to step in with them having so much to say.
“..Father and Mother are going to kill me!”
“Don’t be a party-pooper, Taeyong!”
“Chenle’s right, we are literally just going to the garden and Princess Diana is here with us! She will cover for us!”
“But in seriousness, Diana. You don’t have to do this.” Jaehyun’s voice started to sound worried as he suddenly appeared beside her with each one of them carrying lamps.
Aera turned towards him with a slight smile.
“King Ariston and Queen Rosabeth would not reprimand all of you, I promise. Just like what Haechan said, I will back all of you up.” Aera turned towards some of them at the back.
Aera had offered to take them out to the gardens since Haechan and Chenle along with Lucas had explained what they wanted, with Taeyong and Jaehyun absolutely disagreeing with the fact all of them were going out in the middle of the night.
What’s surprising, for the first time, Johnny wanted to tag along, causing Taeyong and Johnny to allow the others to go since the 2nd eldest was there and wanted to come along.
In conclusion, Johnny, Doyoung, Lucas, Hendery, Haechan, Chenle along with Taeyong and Jaehyun since they were being forced to, came to the garden.
They were busy looking at the night scenery, their mouths slowly gapped.
Lucas, who had gone before, didn’t know how magically the garden looked during the nighttime. It was beautiful during the day but it was more beautiful during night-time.
Fireflies were everywhere and there were lights being placed around the bushes and statues.
It wasn’t scary at all since there were knights walking around in twos to guard the palace.
So Aera decided to take the Neo Brothers around.
Diana was being pulled by Haechan and Chenle with them giving Diana random flowers.
Lucas was busy accompanying Doyoung and Hendery to see the life-size statue of the late Princess Aera, while Johnny was busy looking at an area that made him relive his memories when he was younger.
Little Johnny likes to play in the back garden with little Taeil and little Ten back at home, then everything changed after mother and father demolished it.
It’s weird to call her late princess, when we had seen her right through our eyes.
I was sitting on the bench with Jaehyun while eyeing towards the others just to make sure they were safe.
Glancing towards Jaehyun, I caught him eyeing Haechan and Chenle’s way, then to realise he was openly eyeing on Diana who was too into speaking with both Haechan and Chenle.
How weird, don’t tell me he caught feelings for her..
“Hey, you’re staring at her for too long.” I nudge onto his arms, causing Jaehyun to shake his head slightly before turning towards me.
Frowning, he chuckled embarrassingly. “I wasn’t staring at her. I was looking at the pretty flowers.”
“Yeah right.” I scoff, now feeling Jaehyun nudging onto my arm then causing both of us to chuckle to the awkward atmosphere, knowing that I was right.
Both Jaehyun and I continued to watch over our brothers, when Johnny, Lucas and Doyoung came back with random flowers on their hands and as expected, they gave it to Diana.
“Just like the clematis, you are beautiful inside and out, princess.”
“Johnny, did you just flirt with her?”
“Goodness, I’m too young to hear this.”
“I’m gonna tell Ten.”
Are they flirting with her? Okay Johnny is too flirty.
Turning towards Jaehyun, I could see his jaw clenching, and I can’t help but giggle to see his reaction.
Standing up, I looked down towards him, seeing that Jaehyun’s attention had turned towards me.
“C’mon, we have to leave. It’s getting very late and we will have to wake up early.” I tilt my head towards the others and Jaehyun flusteredly stood up.
I know I am being biased but I am very protective of Jeno, Jaemin, Jisung and the crowned prince.
I didn’t want to see my brother heartbroken or jealous.
“Okay, everyone. We have to leave!” As soon as I announced my words, everyone said ‘aww’ at the same time, excluding Diana who was rubbing Lucas’s back since he was pouting openly.
“Taeyong’s right, we have errands in the morning with mother and father. Then..” Jaehyun trailed off while glancing towards Diana.
“Then I will show you around Aerina’s Kingdom!” Diana enthusiastically said, and everyone’s face started to lighten up visibly.
I heard Jaehyun scoffing, and I quite nudged his arm again.
We make our way to the palace back with Diana standing right in the middle of Jaehyun and I.
I think I found out why Jaehyun has a liking for her.
“It’s been a while Grandma Kim! How are the Southern mountains?”
“Not bad, the dragons did their best to keep out dark souls.”
Aera was having a morning tea time with Grandma Kim who came back from the Southern mountains, where she would take care of the dragons that were guarding the areas from dark souls conquering the Southern mountain.
She stayed there for about 3 weeks.
“So, earlier this morning I saw the Neo boys. Who did you have a liking for?”
With the elderly’s sudden question, Aera spitted on her tea with her snapping towards Grandma Kim with widened eyes.
“What is that supposed to mean!?”
“I said what I said!”
Aera shakes her head, before continuing to sip on her cup of tea.
“I don’t have any liking for them.”
Grandma Kim stared at her, and Aera knew she was reading her.
She felt Grandma Kim’s energy on her mind.
The elderly finally shrugs before sipping her own tea.
“Just saying, some of them already had a liking for you so, I’m just warning you.” Grandma Kim commented, before turning towards the huge pond.
Why is that a warning?
“...Would it be nicer if that turns into a pool?” Grandma Kim pointed towards the huge pond and Aera followed the direction.
“You mean, like a swimming pool?”
“Precisely.”
“It is her.”
As soon as Jackson muttered the words, everyone’s faces visibly grew pale, seeing the hologram of the Scarlet Witch which revealed their Princess Aera in the air.
“I really don’t know what to believe anymore.” Jinyoung whispered, his hands folded while Youngjae put out a book, a history book of Aerina.
Flipping through a page, Youngjae pointed towards a paragraph under the section of the ‘Scarlet Witch’ and ‘Princess Riana Aera’.
“Look, ‘Princess Riana Aera has unleashed the powers of Scarlet Witch from the book of incantations.’ Aera was the last person to use that book, Grandma Kim told me she and Queen Aerina had kept that book safe and hiddened after Aera’s…..” Yugyeom stated as he trailed off, not wanting to say the word ‘death’.
“That explains the glowing hyacinth.” Youngjae muttered, causing the others to look towards him. Both Bambam and Yugyeom looked towards each other with widened eyes.
“...Her powers awakening might have triggered the hyacinth since Aera had used magic to make them!” Bambam exclaimed, earning enthusiastic nods from Yugyeom.
“How are we supposed to find her then?” Mark questioned.
“Well, I can get started. Mark and—
“How do we know it is really her? What if it's the Red Queen?” Jaebeom cuts off Jackson, earning frowns from the others.
“Jaebeom, if it is the Red Queen, she would have already blasted us off right where we were.” Jinyoung dead-panned.
“Jinyoung’s right.” Youngjae added.
“Okay, then. Do whatever you can to find her.” Jaebeom instructed, before they split up.
“Do you think it is really her?” Jackson questioned Mark who was busy writing down on a paper regarding the plans of finding their friend.
“..Well, we literally see her right through our own eyes.” Mark answered, causing Jackson to sigh.
He couldn’t believe it, but at the same time he believes Aera was still alive all this while.
But why did she only reveal herself now?
“Couldn’t believe it too, right?” Mark questioned quietly towards Jackson as the older one had already put the pen down.
“You see, all this while, I don’t believe that Aera is dead. I believe that she is… in another universe.” Mark continued, his body fully turned towards Jackson who was frowning.
“But we all had seen her body literally turned into petals.”
“Exactly! Bodies don’t turn into petals, Jackson! Adding on, she is a demi-god since she has the blood of the old gods! Don’t you listen to the history lessons we had a few months ago?”
“Not exactly, it’s boring.”
“That’s you alright.”
Jackson chuckled to his words, kind of agreeing with Mark's words.
“...If she is alive, then where is she?”
“It’s good that there is progress.”
“Of course! But it would take time, it is a castle anyway, a huge one!” Kun answered Ten after they walked out of the limousine.
The older ones of the Neo Brothers, which were Taeil, Johnny, Taeyong, Yuta, Kun, Doyoung, Ten and Jaehyun were being instructed by King Ariston to go to Neo Kingdom to check on the progress of how their home is doing.
So far, the progress has been good because there is still much to be done.
“I’m hungry. Hey Johnny, let’s— Woah!” Taeil cuts were cut off by him, looking at a specific area, causing the other Neo Brothers to turn where the eldest was looking.
“Oh my god! Taeil is a pervert!”
“Who is that!?”
“...That’s Princess Diana!” Ten pointed out and the Neo Brothers gasp. Ten was right, they saw Diana in a swimsuit.
Although she was somehow covered, they could see the figure of her body.
Some of the Neo Brothers had flushed faces and that would be Taeyong, Ten and Jaehyun.
Unfortunately, the others saw their reactions.
“Hey! Why is your face red?” Yuta turned towards Ten, peering into the other's face.
“Same goes for Taeyong and Jaehyun. Eyy, do the three of you have feelings for her?” Johnny smirked while going towards Taeyong and Jaehyun.
“No!” Ten, Taeyong and Jaehyun said in unison, to see Kun raising her brows towards Jaehyun.
“Ooooo, but your face says otherwise.” Taeil commented, earning slight glares from the three of them.
Though they were quite far, some of the Neo Brothers saw a huge scar on Diana’s arm, which they quickly brushed it off.
“I get that Diana is pretty but, since when did the huge pond turn into a pool?” Doyoung questioned, making everyone turn towards where Diana is before Jaehyun asked everyone to enter the palace.
“Oh god, it’s just you and me? We need Doyoung or Kun with us!”
“Relax, Jaehyun. I heard Diana called Zen to join us so it won’t only be the two of us. Besides, you have your lover—
“Will you please quiet down?!” Jaehyun hissed at the same time covering Taeyong’s mouth. They were literally talking in front of the young ones and unfortunately, Taeyong’s words caught some of their attention.
“What lover? Oh! Jaehyun has a lover!?!”
“What? What!? Jaehyun has a girlfriend?”
“What girlfriend? Who?”
“Jaehyun!”
“What!? Jaehyun!? Why didn’t you tell us you have a girlfriend?”
“Wow! Do we have a sister-in-law now?”
“Whoever it is, she has to meet us first then mother and father.”
“....Isn’t it the opposite?”
Jaehyun sighs, at the same time turning towards Taeyong with a slight glare causing Taeyong to smile sheepishly.
The ones that were chosen to walk around Aerina’s kingdom would be Taeyong, Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Lucas, Mark, Xiaojun, Haechan, Yangyang, Chenle and Jisung.
Now they were just waiting for Zen and Diana, they didn’t even realise that they were about to reach the group when Lucas’s eyes visibly turned behind where Mark, Xiaojun and Yangyang were.
Making the 3 of them turn where Lucas was, to see Zen and Diana.
Seeing the Neo Brothers turning towards me, I can’t help but turn towards Zen.
“Do I look weird?” I whispered towards Zen, who was just giggling away.
I just made a new blouse that kind of looked like a pirate shirt and pants that had buttons.
I was going for a pirate look which I got approval from my mother since it’s a modern era and we can wear anything we want in Aerina’s Kingdom.
It is no longer a strict era where girls had to wear dresses.
“I think it is the opposite of weird, Diana.” Zen answered with a smile and I somehow felt relieved.
“I love your shirt, Diana! Did you make it?” Jungwoo was the first one to comment on my shirt. Before I could answer, Yangyang had stepped beside him.
“She did. And her pants too!”
Looking taken-aback, I turned towards him. “How did you know?”
“Well, I was paying extra attention to your work when you were sewing with us!” Yangyang answered with a smile.
“Hey! Me too! You always had buttons on one of your works!” Mark added, making Lucas join too.
I too complimented them, saying that they look dashing in their royal uniforms. Though I said they did not have to bring swords, they insisted on bringing since it comes with their uniform.
And soon, the other Neo Brothers would join in our discussion and I realized Taeyong and Jaehyun were the only ones who didn’t join in.
“Okay, everyone! Let’s get going!” Zen decided to become the tour-guide while I decided to look after the young ones.
I basically became the caretaker of Haechan, Chenle and Jisung as we stood in the middle while in the front was Jaehyun, Zen, Jungwoo, Mark and Haechan while at the back was Taeyong, Xiaojun, Lucas and Yangyang.
Some of the villagers recognized the Neo Brothers as they greeted them, and some would greet me too.
Chenle and Jisung, who were both by my side, had their focus turned towards the front.
“Diana.. Why are there guards from Morian’s Kingdom?” Haechan, who was at the front suddenly turned around, towards me and I couldn't help but to look at their shoulders since they were tall.
Haechan was right, they were Morian guards.
“....Diana, they don’t look friendly.” Chenle commented.
“Chenle’s right.” Jisung added, at the same time, hiding behind me.
Chenle and Jisung were right, as soon as I made eye contact with one of the guards, I realised that they had long spears, which had Morian’s emblem, with them.
As if they were looking or hunting for someone, judging from their body language.
Walking right passed the others, I stood beside Zen.
“Zen, do you know about their arrival?” I asked calmly, then to see Zen frowning while shaking his head.
“No, your highness. I don’t think Queen Aerina knows either.” Zen answered and I can’t help turning towards where the guards were.
Their presence made the villagers uncomfortable.
They were literally on their horses, it was as if they were looking for criminals.
“Maybe I should—
“Wait, Diana. It’s not safe. Besides, look.” I was about to walk away from Zen when I felt a hand grabbing onto my wrist.
I turned to see Jaehyun, nodding his head behind me.
As soon as I turned to the front, one of the guards who was on top of the horse, walked towards where we were.
“Greetings, Princess Diana. We are—
“What’s going on? Why are you here with your men?” I asked calmly, gesturing to the others who were somehow staring at me.
“We are here, under the order of Prince Jaebeom and the other princes, to find Princess Aera and we won’t leave until we find her.”
“Aera, we have to inform Queen Aerina, right now.”
SUMMARY ― Dark clouds and red lightnings started to appear at all of the 3 kingdoms, but they were headed to one of the 3 kingdoms, causing the kingdoms to be guarded.
CHARACTERS ― Princess Riana Aera/Princess Diana, Queen Aerina (White Queen), Grandma Kim, Zen Alberto, Lim Jaebeom, Mark Tuan, Jackson Wang, Park Jinyoung, Choi Youngjae, Bambam, Kim Yugyeom, Neo Brothers
WARNINGS/AUTHOR’S NOTE ― Fluff and Slight Angst At The End, The Neo Brothers Being Shy and Aera Somehow Being Slightly Flirty! uwu
Our heads turned towards the door opening to reveal the Lady tutor and surprisingly, Lady Diana was there.
We were being sent by mother to learn sewing and she said Aerina was the best place to be sent to and hearing that the palace was the most safest out of the other kingdoms.
I don’t know why but I panicked, turning towards the younger ones.
“I told you guys to keep your voices down!” I nagged at them as they could only have their eyes down, in fear.
Glancing towards Lady Diana, she was exchanging words with the Lady tutor, before nodding and not to what I expected, she entered the room, earning Lucas’s attention.
“Lady Diana!”
Before I could stop him, Lucas happily greeted and Lady Diana smiled widely to his greeting.
I decided to stand up, followed by the others, as we bowed towards her.
“No! Please, sit. I thought we were friends?” Diana frowns and I can’t help but look towards the others confusingly.
Since when we were friends?
“I’m sorry, Lady Diana, but since when we were friends?” I asked politely and sincerely, to see Diana’s face fell slightly.
My younger brothers saw her change of expression, causing them to turn towards me with a slight glare.
I’m older than you guys!
“N-no, that’s not what my brother meant! We ju—
“I’m just kidding, everyone! Well compared to Johnny and a few of them, you guys are very… formal…” Lady Diana jokes, mentioning Johnny and I can’t help but widen my eyes.
“Johnny was here….? That’s mean…” I trailed off.
“Wasn’t he with Yuta, Doyoung, Jungwoo and Haechan?” Mark questioned and Lady Diana nodded, while taking a seat next to me, which was meant for the Lady Tutor.
“We heard what you had done from Johnny and our other brothers. Thank you, Lady Diana.” Ten thanked her politely and her eyes went downcast with a smile.
I heard from the others that her smile was the prettiest among the other lady nobles and princesses.
I could confirm that she indeed has the best smile, also, her eyes too.
“Please forgive us for being too loud. Well, Lucas was being too loud.” Winwin pointed out, causing Lucas to widen his eyes with a gasp.
“Why are you blaming me!? Yangyang taught me the wrong thing!”
“Blame Ten! I learned it from him!” Yangyang who was focusing on his own sewing machine suddenly pointed towards Ten.
I face-palmed to see them basically arguing right in front of Lady Diana.
She had her eyes widened while turning towards the other side, causing me to chuckle slightly.
I didn’t realize what I was doing until Lady Diana turned towards me, her eyes moved towards what I was sewing.
“So, what are you sewing?”
Everyone went quiet after Lady Diana offered to teach us sewing, and when she teaches us, my brothers somehow could understand her easily.
Even Lucas who had asked thousands of questions was about to stitch up pretty much a piece of cloth.
“Lady Diana..” Mark raised his hand up, making Lady Diana to walk over where Mark is.
She was very patient with all of us, never once she was mad or frustrated even when Lucas interrupted her.
“You’re really good at this.” I commented, causing Mark and Lady Diana to turn towards me.
“Thank you. You’re good at this too, all of you.” Lady Diana complimented while patting my shoulder lightly.
Somehow, my cheeks felt warm and I could feel them turning red.
Weird.
“Lady Diana, I need help!” Taeil called while raising his hand. Lady Diana ran towards him, sitting right next to him.
She was demonstrating towards Taeil, and when my eyes turned towards Taeil, he was literally looking at her face rather than her hands.
I could see his cheeks turning pink, and I chuckled at his reaction.
“What are you laughing at?” Winwin asked, while turning towards where I was looking at.
I quickly shake my head while continuing my work.
Lady Diana is amazing, she decided to stay after teaching us as she did her own work too, with us.
I am honored!
“Lady Diana—
“I think you all should stop calling me ‘lady’. Call me Diana.”
“Can we?” Winwin questioned softly, earning a nod from Diana whose eyes were still onto her own sewing machine.
“Of course! I don’t know, maybe it’s just me, I consider you all to be my friend. I have a feeling I would be seeing you guys more.” Diana stated smoothly, earning a few shocking looks from my other brothers.
Wow, Diana is really smooth, or is it just me?
“Okay then… First day of being friends starting today!” Mark cheered and Diana followed his gesture although she didn’t directly look up.
I laugh to see their reaction, earning a cheeky look from Diana as she looks up towards me.
“We should invite Diana to our castle, next time!” I offered, earning nods of enthusiasm from Mark.
“We need to ask mother and father first, Xuxi.” Ten tilt his head towards me and I slumped onto my chair.
“...Xuxi?” Diana repeated, turning towards Ten and I.
“Xuxi is Lucas’s birth name.” Ten answered with a smile.
“My name is Huang Xuxi! Lucas is my nickname, you could say. Only the people in the Neo royal household call me Xuxi! You can call me Xuxi, Diana!” I told her, earning nods from Diana.
“Ten’s name isn’t Ten, the same as Winwin and Mark!” Taeil added, his head looking up towards Diana.
“Ten’s real name is Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul, but he prefers us to call him Ten since it is easier and Winwin’s real name is Dong Sicheng, while Mark is Lee Minhyung!”
Yangyang explained and that’s when we decided to tell our other brothers’ real names since she probably will meet them sooner or later.
I do too feel like she will meet some of us in the future soon.
Diana is an interesting lady.
Taeil had told Aera that he wanted to go to the late princess’s memorial, which was located near the garden.
Aera decided to guide them to where it is.
As soon as they stepped into the memorial, she could hear their ‘wow’s and ‘oh my’, specifically coming from Mark.
“Doyoung was disappointed to be honest. He didn’t get the chance to come here.” Taeil commented while looking around the garden.
“This is beautiful, just like how they described in the storybooks.” Winwin commented, as he stood by all the statues, reading the description of all the greek gods and goddesses.
“Diana!” Lucas called, earning Aera’s attention as she turned to where the voices were - seeing Lucas handing out a random flower to her.
“Thank you, Xuxi!” Aera smiled while sticking the flower in her dress.
“Stop flirting with her, Xuxi. She has a boyfriend!” Yangyang pulled Lucas’s ears, earning a whine from Lucas.
“I apparently don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Wait what!? You don’t? B-but, you’re so pretty and nice.” Mark muttered at the end, but Aera could hear him clearly.
“..I’m happy just the way I am right now.” Aera answered sincerely, and they have finally reached the memorial.
Seeing a life-size statue that was placed in the middle with a bunch of bouquets of flowers on the floor with drawings and letters.
Aera stood at the back, while the Neo Brothers went to the front, standing right in front of the statue as they had their own ways of praying.
She could only look down.
There was a weird feeling, she didn’t know why she felt sad.
It was as if they really lost her and it was if she really lost herself.
She didn’t even realize that she was shedding her own, hearing a sniffle coming from herself - causing the Neo brothers to turn towards her.
Taeil was the first one to reach her. “Don’t cry, Diana.” He wiped the tears that were flowing to her cheeks with concerned eyes.
“Diana, don’t cry!” Lucas went towards Aera, turning towards his older brothers for help.
“Don’t cry, Diana. We all are here for you.” Winwin patted Aera’s head, making her shed more tears and sobs to appear.
“Sicheng! No.. Don’t cry..” Ten frowned towards Winwin, as Ten hugged her slightly while rubbing her back.
The Neo Brothers gathered around Aera, as they ended up shedding their own tears.
Instead of reading the books using her astral projection that she was supposed to study more, both her body and soul were day-dreaming on what had happened a few hours ago.
After the crying session and thanks to that, Aera had somehow grown closer to the Neo Brothers but sadly they had to return back to Neo Kingdom since she was being told they have their own classes there.
Lucas and Yangyang were the ones who wanted to stay longer and wanted to skip classes to be forced by Taeil and Ten to return back home.
But Aera promised them that they could return to Aerina any time but with the permission of King Ariston and Queen Rosabeth.
“Princess?”
Zen’s voice was being heard causing all of the books that were floating to drop immediately, red mist slowly disappearing.
Turning towards Zen, Aera didn’t realise she had tears rolling on her cheeks.
Zen ran towards where Aera was, sitting next to her while looking at her with the most worried eyes.
“What’s wrong, Aera?”
“Happy tears.”
“That doesn’t look like happy tears, Aera. That looks like sad tears to me.” Zen answered, and Aera’s eyes immediately went downcast before turning towards him.
“...I don’t know, Zen. I feel like… I feel like I am really dead. It’s weird but.. Really..” Aera’s voice softens as she tilts her head slightly.
There was so much sorrow in her eyes.
No one could show their emotions clearly in their eyes before, Aera was the first.
Of course, she is the princess, the goddess, the scarlet witch.
Yet after-all this time, be it in the open or close doors, she stayed the same, the humble, passionate, very hard-headed and soft spoken princess I have always known.
She was the same person in most of the storybooks but I didn’t know she was more compassionate than the books had depicted.
“I don’t know, Zen. Maybe I am just sad about what is really going on here in Wonderland. I expected things to be smooth and good, but..” Aera trailed off and I can’t help but smile slightly.
“..Well, things were once smooth and good but it doesn’t last long, princess. We are trying our best to live in a good condition, in a comfortable life. Queen Aerinahas tries ways to help our neighbouring kingdoms.”
I told Aera. I knew she had weight on her shoulders, seeing she had read about the different kingdoms and their problems.
And how to solve it.
“I shouldn’t have left.”
“That isn’t your fault, Aera. Like each one of us, we have a time limit here. Everyone will eventually be gone, it’s just a matter of time… and I somehow believe in reincarnation, if that exists.”
“...That’s deep but true.” Aera muttered as she nodded.
Aera’s eyes stared somewhere as her lips curved upwards, at the same time, the same books that fell suddenly started to float.
I am always surprised whenever things started to move on their own, if Aera was there.
I need to get used to this.
“...Thank you, Zen. I felt much better talking to someone.”
“You are always there for others, it’s time for someone... to be there for you.” I said shyly and Aera could only look at me with a smile.
“Can I stay?”
“Of course!”
⋯ ⋯ ⋯
After deciding to stay in the library, Aera decided to go outside for some fresh air while Zen prepared a tea break for Aera, both of them enjoying some tea outside.
“This is delicious!” said Aera while looking at the cupcakes before devouring it, earning a chuckle from Zen who was sipping his own tea.
“I heard this is what ladies do when they are sad here. They drink tea and cupcakes.” Zen stated and Aera turned towards him.
So he prepared this all for me?
“R-really? This is great! In the other world, when I’m sad, I sleep it off!”
“That’s not the right way! You should eat then go to sleep!”
Aera giggled at his words, as she decided to eat more cupcakes, also seeing Zen’s proud and wide smile as he lovingly watched Aera eat the cupcakes when all of a sudden, dark clouds and red flashes started to emerge from the sky.
It caught both Zen and Aera’s attention with Aera’s hands starting to move slowly while Zen had put down his cup of tea on the table.
Zen’s face grew cold, before turning towards Aera.
“Aera, we have to inform Queen Aerina, right now.”
Youngjae and Iris were busy digging up soil, while on the other side, Bambam and Yugyeom were having a friendly sword-fighting match, with Mark and Jackson while Jinyoung and Jaebeom were reading their own books right at the side.
“C’mon Jackson! Your hands are like jelly!”
“Me?! That’s Bambam!”
“What!? I am not a jelly! I am a tree! A strong one!”
“Did you just compliment yourself?”
“He did.”
Jinyoung looked up from his book, to see basically the four of them talking while slashing their swords.
“Would you guys be quiet over there!? We are trying to read a book!”
“Maybe we should—
Jaebeom’s voice trailed off, after seeing dark clouds appearing with red flashes.
Everyone’s attention turned towards the sky, with Jaebeom and Jinyoung's book being dropped along with the swords that was being hold by Mark, Jackson, Bambam and Yugyeom.
“Oh no.” Youngjae muttered, turning towards Iris who already nodded, going in a certain direction.
He dropped his tiny shovel, running towards where the others were - seeing that the others were running towards where Jaebeom is.
Jinyoung and Mark had already left, going up to be in Juno’s room.
“We have to inform the knights!” Yugyeom was about to run when Youngjae held onto Yugyeom’s arm, his head was up to the sky.
“Wait! Look…” Youngjae trailed off as the others looked up.
The dark sky was heading towards Neo Kingdom.
“C’mon Jisung! You can do this!”
“The sword is too heavy, Jaemin!”
Jaemin and Jisung were having their swordsmanship class, and they weren’t the only ones there.
“Someone save me!”
“I’m literally just on top of you!”
“Exactly! Get off!”
Renjun felt suffocated, with Jeno literally squishing him on the floor, his body weight pressing onto Renjun.
“That is not a fair play, Jeno.” Hendery commented, earning a chuckle from Xiaojun as he helped Renjun up while Hendery pinched Jeno’s cheeks.
“At least I won.” Jeno sticks out his tongue towards Renjun who was trying to fight him but Xiaojun had him on his arms.
As they were walking back towards the castle, leaving Jaemin and Jisung who were in their own little word, everything happened in just at once when Chenle moved quickly to get both Jaemin and Jisung out of the field.
A single strike of lightning shot where Jaemin and Jisung were.
He wasn’t the only one.
Haechan had grabbed Renjun and Jeno while Xiaojun had grabbed Hendery.
In just a second, they had reached into the palace, with them looking puzzled.
“Wait— How—
“Look!” Renjun pointed outside, to see burnt marks on the field, seeing lightning striking the field.
His eyes turned towards the sky, seeing dark clouds and red lightning striking non-stop.
Renjun turned towards the others.
“We have to inform mother and father, and our brothers.”
While being escorted by Grandma Kim while pulling Aera together with Zen, Aera could see knights and amazons basically standing outside of the palace as they were in their positions.
“What is going on!?” Aera yelled, at the same time seeing royal housemaids running here and there but what’s interesting is that they were wearing traditional Aerina’s armor.
Why are they wearing it? It’s only worn when there is war….
Which means…
“Wait.. Are we going on a war?!”
“Very clever, princess! You did study for your history lessons!”
“Grandma, I don’t think this is the time for jokes!” Zen commented as they turned to a corner, entering Aera’s wardrobe room.
Zen quickly closed the door shut, locking the door.
Aera looked at Grandma Kim confusingly, seeing the elderly using her wooden stick tapping onto the large mirror twice.
Green mist started to appear around the large mirror.
“Listen carefully, Aera. The dark clouds and red lightnings you see just now, is the Red Queen.”
“You’re saying the Red Queen is here?”
“Not her. Her followers.” Zen added and Aera slowly nodded, trying to understand the situation.
“At this rate, they had already raided Neo castle.”
“What?!” Aera exclaimed as she began to panic, leading to Grandma Kim to gesture the large mirror.
“You flying or we taking the carriage or a car would take time and it might be too late. Hence..” Grandma Kim gestured and Aera gulped.
“Where does that lead me to?”
“Somewhere in Neo’s castle, you will know.” said Grandma Kim and Aera slowly went towards the mirror.
A staircase magically appeared in front of her, leading towards the mirror.
“What about you and the others? I can’t just leave you and—
“We will be fine, Aera. I think Neo needs more help than us.” Grandma Kim reassured Aera, turning towards Zen who gave a reassuring nod at the same time letting out a hand to escort her safely.
Stepping onto the stairs, Aera stood in front of the mirror.
At first she saw her reaction, but as soon as she went nearer towards the mirror, Aera could see a different room that looked much darker to where she is since her room is white and gold.
Gulping slightly, Aera turned towards Zen.
“Please look out for mother and Grandma Kim, Zen, and you too.” Aera gripped onto his hands, before turning towards Grandma Kim with a worried look.
“There’s one thing about Neo’s castle, Aera.”
Aera frowned to the elderly’s words, knowing that she is growing anxious on the inside. “Neo castle doesn’t allow magic from the outside, hence, whatever you are trying to hide, it will basically be shown.”
“Which means your powers won’t work on disguising yourself. You will be seen as the late Princess Aera, also known as the Scarlet Witch.”
