A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
***
Prince Zodiac shook his head. The water dropping from him splattered, then he brushed his wet hair back with both hands. The expression on his face was exhilarated, smirking at Skadi Eira to tease her.
"His Equal loves me. She pulled me back. So sweet~"
Skadi Eira stabbed the turkey with the spoon while glaring at him, "Shut up, kid. I'm gonna throw you back with no return. Try me!"
Celia came with towels to dry him. His clothes were torn, for the place where Skadi Eira sent him is in the eye of a storm. However, Celia was taken aback when the towel touched his skin, there were smudges of 'gold' in the towel.
"Your Imperial Majesty, what does this mean?"
Prince Zodiac looked at the wet, glittering gold stain on the towel.
"Oh, just a moment."
Prince Maximilien poke his brother with his gun. Though there was nothing on him, a gold paint was left on the gun. It gradually spread, coating the whole thing to gold.
"Seriously? You're this special?"
Prince Zodiac proudly smirked at his brother and pulled the gun from him.
"Can't risk turning you to gold as well, brother. I don't know how to revert things I turned to gold to normal, so be careful."
As he said that, he's concealed his ability to himself and became normal.
Prince Maximilien rolled his eyes, "What if you're having sex with your oh-so-future wife? She'd be a statue of gold while in the middle of it?"
It's something private that he shouldn't have asked, but that made Prince Zodiac think. Now, it's bothering him. What if, really?
"I-I was just kidding. That's a nonsense thought! Don't think about it too much!"
"No, no. You're right. What if? My soulmate will become a statue of gold, then what about me? I will become mad. What if she's carrying our baby by then?"
Prince Zodiac's eyes soon got spirals. It's already driving him mad. He's jumping into conclusions, making endless scenarios with a blurry-faced woman as his future wife, and so. He suddenly loathe himself.
"I-I... I'm gonna be a bad husband---"
"Hey, I said it as a joke! What the hell are you saying!?"
Prince Zodiac turned away, "No! I will be a bad husband and a bad daddy! Because of my perfection, I will bring my future wife and son to their demise! I hate myself. It's because I'm so perfect. What did I do to deserve this? My poor future baby, I hate myself so much!"
Prince Maximilien turned to Prince Valerian with his jaw locked open, asking for assistance.
Prince Valerian palmed his face and approached his tearful brother.
"I'm gonna be a bad husband and daddy," the Prince sniffled.
"K-Kuya, don't think about it. You won't. Like you said, your future wife will be on your level. Therefore, your gold touch won't 'touch' her. Right?" He tried to console him and touched him quick. He checked his fingers if there was gold on them, but none. He then touched Prince Zodiac fully when he's sure.
Prince Zodiac ducked and cried softly, "You will have lots of babies by then, but I will be just a miserable one who can't secure a wife. I'm sad."
"K-Kuya!"
Prince Valerian angrily glared at Prince Maximilien, "It's because of you! He's sulking because of you!"
"What!? If he's too smart, he won't believe that!?"
"Our Kuya is very soft, can't you see? Kuya, don't believe Maximilien. Among us, it will be him who won't get a wife. He's mean and very rough and very insensitive. He may look good, but women don't like boys without manners."
"Excuse me!? Why are we talking about wives here!? We're still children!"
Prince Zodiac rest his head on his brother's shoulder, "Why am I perfect, Valy? Mommy and Daddy didn't give me any flaws at all. I should be happy, but my future wife and baby will... Huhuhu, my ability will turn them into gold!"
Prince Valerian bit his lower lip and consoled his brother. He gave him lots of words of affirmations and said all the good things to make him feel better, all he glaring at the other.
"You're so weird!" Prince Maximilien stomp him foot and marched back to his throne to mind his own business. He can't believe their eldest brother is very simple-minded!
"Feeling better?" Prince Valerian smiled when his brother is back to his feet.
Still bothered by it a bit, Prince Zodiac nodded, "Thank you, Valy. You're the best. Come here, I'll give you a kiss." And he did the usual.
After changing his clothes, they went back to their thrones.
"Now, we will begin,"
Prince Zodiac flicked his fingers and the chairs were gone. Then, Celia poured rock salt in front of each person.
"Bare your knees and kneel. Celia, cut their legs if they refuse. You will be kneeling from start to finish and there will be no exceptions, other than His Equal and Lady Solana."
Prince Valerian's eyes widened and twisted his body to face his brother. Prince Maximilien who was playing with his guns were surprised as well and couldn't believe it.
"Brother, don't you think that's a bit...?"
Prince Zodiac tap his foot. Celia placed a foot rest before him.
"Do not waver before these monsters, Valy. Remember what they did to Mommy. That much is not enough," he reasoned while keeping his eyes on the Earthlings.
"Bare your knees and KNEEL."
Franchetti Xerene ripped the lower part of her slacks and was the first to kneel on the rock salt served on the ground for her. All while looking straight at the First Prince's eyes. With her lead, the others followed.
"Is your seat comfortable, Maxism and Paris?" Asked the Prince to the only ones with a seat.
They gulped and nodded, "Y-Yes, Your Imperial Majesty. Thank you."
"Do you know why I didn't take your chairs?"
The two looked at each other, then shook their heads.
"Because you are the only ones who greeted me properly. They saw you but didn't follow the lead," the Prince sighed in disappointment, "So much for the 'most intelligent race'."
Prince Valerian cleared his throat to take over, "Now, where do we start?"
But Prince Zodiac got distracted, "Valy, when did you get so small again? Aww, I want to see more grown Valy~"
"K-Kuya, we need to get serious now. Please..." He was flustered.
Prince Zodiac pouted, "Hmmph, Valy!"
He breathe in and changed his personality.
"Very well," he crossed his legs, "Start. Speak."
Emperor Maxism did not hesitate to raise his hand.
"I would like ask the First Prince."
"You may."
He looked at Duke Paris first. He nodded at him, so the Emperor went on while looking straight into the First Prince's eyes.
"You know your brothers more than your mother. My question is specifically about my grandson, Maximilien. It's about his Bloodline, Copy Bloodline. Is it the same as what we know or is it what we want it to be?"
Prince Maximilien corrected his seating position, "And why are you curious about that? Are you going to use me?" Same thought of his other brothers.
"No," stated the Emperor firmly, "But honestly, I did think of that. I want to use you so you can use me, too. However, if it is to be proven that Copy Bloodline is merely not for 'multiplying' things, then I will give my utmost to train my sons. My eldest is a swordmaster who still have a long way to go. So is my second who is a marksman at the same time. If they were to fuse what they can already do with their Bloodline, they will be unstoppable."
Hearing him, Prince Maximilien could only snort. Then, he turned to his elder brothers. Prince Zodiac looked at both sides, then grins,
"Does both have Core Essence, though?"
Prince Maxigaufeas's heart slowed down. Emperor Maxism clenched his fists when he get what the Prince is trying to do. The question hooked the other's attention and curiosity because---Why would he ask that if there's nothing behind it?
And so, the dead rumor came back to life---about Prince Maxigaufeas not having a Core Essence at all when he was born and even now as a grown man, it never occurred.
Still, he could use essence. Limited and few.
"My son's Core Essence is missing," the Emperor declared the truth, shocking everyone. He stepped out and marched down the aisle with courage as he face the three Princes.
"He have one, but it was taken. YOUR MOTHER TOOK IT, and I demand you to return what was rightfully his."
Prince Maxigaufeas stared at his father's back with tearful eyes.
"Your proof? Basis? Why take his and not your wife's, when she's the purest and last Vernignac there is? Born from incest, therefore, her Core Essence is more valuable at least. But your son's?" Prince Zodiac.
"Don't play with me, Your Imperial Highness. I know you know what your mother did. She took Other Side Maxigaufeas's Core Essence, that's why when he was born in This Side, now, he didn't have it!"
Prince Valerian stomp his foot, "Watch your tone. I don't like the tone of how you accuse us."
Emperor Maxism realized his mistake and lowered his head as soon as he was reprimanded and asked for forgiveness.
It doesn't matter. He will go lower if it means getting what he wanted from them. He will submit, just this time. Because he's still powerless, because he's still lacking. But once he got it...
"But why would Mommy take your faggot son's Core Essence? He's dumb and useless and worthless! He can't possibly have use other than being the biggest joke in here."
Prince Zodiac placed his hand on his mouth to suppress his laugh.
"Does that make you a mini joke?"
Prince Valerian looked away while biting his lips inwards.
"What!? How dare you! You're pissing me off again!"
"But as to me, I have no idea about that. Kuya, is it true? Did Mommy really take his son's Core Essence?"
Prince Zodiac played and shrugged, "I don't know~? No way~ What made you think that I do~?" The Second Prince didn't buy it.
He knows. He knows something.
And so, Emperor Maxism dropped all his defenses and even his dignity and grovel before him.
"Please, Prince Zodiac. I beg you; if you don't want to return it, at least tell us the truth. When I was under the curse, I had visions from the past. That's why I challenged your mother about my soul---"
"We don't need you, to be honest."
Emperor Maxism was frozen.
"We can just force you and use you against your will, if you truly so believe that you're the only way to get Ivy and Ambry back. It's that simple. I don't even know why Mommy accepted your challenge that's already past due."
Prince Valerian felt sorry for the Emperor after hearing the reasoning of his eldest brother.
"You are right..." Emperor Maxism's voice was low. He lifted his head and sat right up, still on his knees, with a determined expression on his face.
Prince Zodiac smirked, "See? Then we're done."
"I know myself."
Prince Zodiac's brow arched when he's still at it.
"I know myself and I am very true to my soul. She may have had my soul, imprisoned it, but she can never make it submit. If otherwise, it will resist. My soul is only fooling her. That's who I am. That's what I am. Either your mother knew---but whatever her reason may be, that won't change the fact that she took my challenge. I have something to fight for. I want my soul and I will get it. In exchange, I will open the gates of Heaven and take the Princes back. I have a will, I have a purpose, and I will do everything to make things drift my way."
Prince Maximilien spin his gun around his finger while smirking. Prince Valerian is watching their eldest brother. The last say will be his, after all.
Prince Zodiac's blue irises shrinked as he flash an unhinged, twisted smile on his face, "You sound like you are better than me."
Emperor Maxism saw something ominous coming so he slammed his head back to the ground, "NO, YOUR IMPERIAL MAJESTY! I can't be possibly better than you!"
Prince Valerian tried to look away. When he did, the face of his eldest brother replayed in his mind. His breathing became sharp and he found his hands trembling subtly.
Prince Zodiac seemed confused and disappointed, then his aura that's stirring the atmosphere faded and calmed down. He pulled himself together and smiled at the Emperor with favor.
"I like you. I will call you Uncle from now on."
"M-My Prince, I am not worthy and deserving, but the honor and pleasure will be mine!"
"Then, Uncle, what else do you know that I don't? What else can you do, what else do you have up your sleeves? Give me one, and I will decide."
Emperor Maxism opened his eyes and gulped.
The Prince is trapping him. He wants him to speak about one of his aces. And what if he do? There's no guarantee that Prince Zodiac will like it. What if the Prince already knows what he deemed as an 'ace'? He ranked his cards based on his own assessment. He can't possibly say the same thing he made with the Ki'zaar to the First Prince.
Duke Paris bit his nails.
What will the Emperor do?
Use it. He will use it.
"I have one of His Equal's memory fragments."
Skadi Eira, who doesn't give a shit about their matters but is listening, was hooked to join the conversation.
And suddenly, they don't know if for the better or for the worse, but Prince Zodiac started laughing out loud.
"Bring it to me then."
Emperor Maxism lifted his head. The following second, he's running for his life to get what he said. And he truly showed and brought a memory fragment when he returned.
"Bloody hell! You have one all along and you never said a thing!?"
Skadi Eira left her seat to see it.
"All things have its use. I want to use this against you, but the First Prince..."
Prince Zodiac laughed again. So much harder.
His Equal grabbed the Emperor's neck, "Damn human. You fear that kid more than you fear me? This is mine and you will use it against me?"
Emperor Maxism felt his neck getting cold, then it began to feel warm as her ice burn his skin.
He smirked at them fearlessly, "Now you have an idea of who I am."
"You...bastard!"
Skadi Eira opened a random portal and threw the Emperor there, but Prince Zodiac pulled him back and placed him in front of him. He's still laughing.
Skadi Eira cut the Emperor's hand and opened her hand. He memory fragment floated to her hand. It's small and slim, and its color is dark.
"Let me see you." The memory fragment sparked, its hologram is malfunctioning.
"A defective memory fragment?" Prince Zodiac wondered.
"No," Prince Valerian, "It withholds...the memory of our Patron Deity. I can feel it. I am certain."
Skadi Eira dropped her hand, afraid that the coming memory fragment is cursed. The memory fragment was left suspended in the air with flickering light.
"What's wrong with it? Where did you find it?" they interrogate the Emperor.
"I-It was buried... I found it when I'm starting the construction of my Church. Though it looked like that, it didn't feel cursed at all. When I picked it up, what I felt was a heartache. Anguish that's so strong. But most of all, vengeance."
There was a moment of silence, until the First Prince broke it to order the memory fragment be kept. Then, they proceed.
"I know a person who may have known where your worthless son's Core Essence is. Wattroid,"
Hearing his summon from his master's office, Wattroid stepped out and presented himself before the son of his master.
"You called for me, Your Imperial Highness?"
"Bring me the head of Dryllivan Sacremore."
Wattroid's eyes widened, "P-Prince... The man is dangerous---"
"I see no danger here other than ME. Wattroid, do not waste my time and bring me what I asked you."
Without a choice, Wattroid went back to his master's office to bring their captive. He transfered it to Celia and he was out.
Dryllivan Sacremore opened his eyes. The first thing he sees after so long is the Prince's face.
"The ghost Prince," he said with bitterness but while smirking.
"And the loser," Prince Zodiac smiled and stand up.
Celia placed the case on a high table. Prince Zodiac walked around the head while touching the case with his finger.
"Uncle, ask him. He knows where your worthless son's Core Essence is."
Emperor Maxism rose from the ground and faced Dryllivan. Looking at the boy, he doesn't know what to feel. First of all, it's him who locked Prince Maxigaufeas and Prixcess Eowyne in one of Azarese's vaults. His son, though partly an Ancient, died. Dryllivan killed his son.
"Did you lock my son with Princess Eowyne in one of her vaults?" Was his question despite already knowing the truth.
Dryllivan snickered, "I see that so much has happened already since. Where is your father, ghost Prince? He didn't turn into a monster of sort, did he?"
"The only monster here is you. But I guess you'll take pride in that. What's wrong to us is right to you."
Dryllivan chuckled, "That's why it's right to lock them up together in her vault. How did you know? You opened her vaults?"
He said it while looking at Emperor Maxism to milk him his wrath, but he got nothing. The Emperor is only staring at him coldly. He got the answer to his question.
"Why did you do it?"
"Did I need a reason to?"
Emperor Maxism walked to him and placed his hand on the case. Dryllivan is expecting him to rage, but he was dumbfounded when the Emperor lowered his head to see him close with a twisted expression all over his face.
"You ungrateful son of a bitch. Because of me, Van didn't find you. You're hiding in that tiny drawer, scared for your life. Did you see him drag your Mommy from those holes?"
Dryllivan's bloodshot eyes widened with fury at the Emperor for bringing up the past.
Emperor Maxism's face fade to something cold and merciless one more time, "Tell why you did it and I will tell you about Dryfaeia."
"Keep her name out of your tongue."
"DRYFAEIA. Your twin sister, the one you're looking for, the kid you hid inside the vase."
"WHERE IS SHE!?"
Emperor Maxism smiled and pat his case. Duke Paris shook his head. He was there. They were there, they were present when they're raiding the Imperial Palace of the Sacremores to capture them during the purge. He knew that Emperor Maxism saw something. That when he was coming, he suddenly said there was nothing and dragged him to another place. It's because the Emperor saw the twins hiding to survive.
"Tell me where Maxigaufeas's Core Essence is first."
"Are you fucking---I don't know! I don't care about your worthless son's Core Essence! Tell me where she is! I swear to your fucking God, I will kill you!"
Dryfaeia. What's so special about his twin? He lost his composure upon hearing her name. She's the one he's looking for. Did he love her that much? Well, she's probably her last family member. They killed them all. The Dragunovvs, those barbaric Earthlings...killed them all.
"Really? You didn't know?" Prince Zodiac teased and turned the case to his way, "You know. You know where it is. You have it all along!"
"I said, I DON'T KNOW IT!"
Prince Zodiac laughed and roamed around the head, "You know, Sacremore! Think! You know where it is! Or rather..." He spin around and bends his waist to the side to the level of the case while grinning at Dryllivan.
"---You know WHO it is."
Dryllivan stared into his eyes. He blinked, he's perplexed. The webs of his thoughts are tangled.
"You are the infamous lover of the Empress, our mother. Yet no matter how many times you sleep together, you can't seem to have a child with her. That's because Mommy doesn't want your babies. She want no bastard, no bastard from a fallen, knighted Prince. But, she had an idea! You are very aware about the Artificial Princesses, right?"
Then, it hit him.
Prince Zodiac stand upright and clapped his hands, "That's right! Create a child artificially! That way, her curse won't reach it! She grew your child in a tank after taking the fertilized egg in her womb! Since she's growing it artificially, its Core Essence did not develop. And wow, the idiot Maxigaufeas is there! Very convenient, so she took his Core Essence and gave it to her! A good mother, isn't she? But guess what, she didn't like what it turned out to be! So, she left it there, in the Diamond Palace, and has forgotten about it since."
Dryllivan's eyes start to glisten. It's coming all together to him finally. A realization, as if the puzzle pieces are solving themselves.
"N-No..."
"Yes. It's your daughter. She's your daughter. My mother's imposter, Sun, is your daughter!"
The Mistress of Death collapsed, not because of the hurt she's feeling from kneeling on rock salt, but because of that cruel realization.
"Stop spouting nonsense, you ghost Prince! She is not! She is that Vernignac's daughter! She's not mine---"
"YOURS, SACREMORE!"
Dryllivan tightly shut his eyes.
Sun... The Princess... It couldn't be.
Sun is his daughter?