Chapter 41: Bound by Blood, Guarded by Power
The night was silent, the stars veiled by dense clouds that carried the weight of hidden truths. In the garden where moonlight barely touched the earth, Prince Kimo turned to Oki with eyes full of quiet pleading.
"Oki," he whispered, "I want to see your true self."
She didn't move at first. Then slowly, she raised her glowing green eyes to meet his. "You haven't grown your inner self to the extent of being able to stand my true form," she said, her voice deepening and echoing unnaturally in the air. "If a whole nation saw me in my complete form, it would perish."
Her words struck the air like cold thunder. Her voice danced with something ancient, dangerous. She stepped closer, a smirk teasing the corner of her lips. "Believe me, my prince… Why do you think I'm stopping you from getting intimate with me?" Her long black hair fluttered without wind. "Your inner self hasn't grown to that extent."
Prince Kimo blinked, stunned, his heart racing.
"Your mother… she knows better," Oki continued. "But as I told you before—you are stronger than me. You just have to embrace your true self."
She turned from him, shadows curling around her feet. "I'm related to your mother, Prince Kimo. Elira and I… were once from the same realm. I was so mad when she left home to be with your father. So mad, I cut all ties with her."
Kimo's breath caught in his throat. "Then why… why are you here now?"
Oki's eyes dimmed with sorrow. "Because I know I have to be. My family begged me not to let Elira vanish from this world without a successor. This is why I'm here. You are that successor, my prince." She stepped toward him, placing her hand gently over his heart. "I will protect you with my life."
He leaned into her touch, his voice barely audible. "Where is my mother now?"
"Where she is… I cannot enter. At least not yet. But she will be alright. I promise."
Prince Kimo's eyes filled with unshed tears, then hardened. "Then I'll grow. I'll be ready."
Behind them, a new tension began to rise in the palace. The evil queen, sensing the bond between Kimo and Oki growing deeper, grew restless. Her jealousy had sharpened into paranoia. She watched from afar with narrowed eyes, clutching ancient scrolls that whispered forbidden spells.
Meanwhile, the king paced in his chamber, unaware of how deeply the past was rooted in the present. His dreams had become more violent—Queen Elira's voice, cold and fierce, warning him of the coming storm.
"I still don't understand," Kimo murmured, turning back to Oki. "Why hide all of this from me?"
Oki looked into his soul. "Because the truth could destroy a heart not ready. And because… love is both a strength and a curse when wielded by those who've tasted betrayal."
She leaned in, brushing her fingers along his jawline. He closed his eyes as she pressed a soft kiss to his lips—gentle, but full of depth and devotion. And yet, just as the warmth threatened to pull them into something deeper, she pulled back.
"This is not the time," she whispered.
Kimo opened his mouth to protest, but stopped. He nodded slowly. "Then tell me… when will it be time?"
Oki smiled faintly. "When your true self awakens, my prince."
Far in the distance, a low rumble cracked across the sky. Thunder of the past and future colliding.
And in the queen's chamber, a single candle flickered wildly—as if something, or someone, unseen had just passed through.
To be continued....