Crescent Shaped Soul - Amethyst of Deception

Chapter 7: A Truth For A Weeping Child

The next morning, the sun rose again, like nothing had ever happened. The constant cycle of day and night, however turmoiled humanity might be, won't be interrupted by such trivial occurrences. And just as dawn broke, so did the birds, chirping joyfully in their trees, singing their melodies.

Luna looked outside and watched as a robin hid in a bush, pigeons picking on the grass of the royal garden, without a care in the world. How she longed to be as carefree as a bird, not concerned by human messes. Tears were streaming down her face, followed by the occasional sniff, but yet, she felt empty.

It was like her father's death didn't influence her, it made her feel like a monster. Perhaps she was one afterall, a bad person, someone who lacked empathy. Her tears didn't stem from the loss of her father, but because she felt indifference to it.

She noticed the tears that had fallen onto her book about birds, and she tried to dry it with the hem of her shirt, to little avail. Looks like she might have to get a new copy. But the princess shook her head and hiccuped once more.

She mustn't think about the future not now. That was for the grown-ups to handle. She was too scared. Will she become Queen now? Even if that seemed unrealistic, she had heard about some prince being crowned that was barely two years older than she was right now.  He wasn't in charge of anything back then, but still, the thought of being coronated gave the princess chills.

Just then, she heard a knock, followed by Sato coming in, leaning against the doorframe. It was not to tell her the truth, not yet. It'd be too much for Luna to take in right now, but she had other news, "Luna, your cousins decided to pay you a visit. ."

"Let them in," Luna sniffled, "I could use some...distraction," she replied as she stood up, dusting off her shirt. If it would be obvious she had been crying? It probably would be.

Sato nodded solemnly, and closed the door. A few minutes passed that the princess didn't even begin to realize, her mind replaying the events of the previous day, replaying that sight that plagued her mind. On the topic, she remembered Aelias mysterious statement, one that she still sought closure for, "then worry not, your problems will be solved, and you'll meet the next-door princess sooner than you think," kept drilling in her mind. Perhaps it was as simple as she thought. Perhaps she simply will be able to meet princess Celyne to wish her a belated happy birthday, now that her fathers restriction was gone, and thats all what the spirit meant. It had to be. even if she knew that was likely not it.

"Let them in," Luna sniffled, "I could use some...distraction," she replied as she stood up, dusting off her shirt. If it would be obvious she had been crying? It probably would be.
Sato nodded solemnly, and closed the door. A few minutes passed that the princess didn't even begin to realize, her mind replaying the events of the previous day, replaying that sight that plagued her mind. On the topic, she remembered Aelias mysterious statement, one that she still sought closure for, "then worry not, your problems will be solved, and you'll meet the next-door princess sooner than you think," kept drilling in her mind. Perhaps it was as simple as she thought. Perhaps she simply will be able to meet princess Celyne to wish her a belated happy birthday, now that her fathers restriction was gone, and thats all what the spirit meant. It had to be. even if she knew that was likely not it.
Soon it knocked, and her cousins stepped in, gazes pitiful. Eden stepped close to her, and pulled her into a tight hug, like she always would when they were younger. the older girl offered her condolences as she pulled away, "how are you, you poor thing?"
Luna forced a smile upon her lips, trying her best to mask her inner turmoil. "I'm alright physically, but i still need to..." she pulled herself together, "to grasp what has happened. but dont worry about me."
The little boy that had followed Eden inside shook his head as he petted his cousins hair. "No, Lune! you aren't fine, and we'll be here with you!"
The princess couldnt help but smile at his enthusiasm, and patted his shoulder, fake smile slowly softening into a real one, "Thank you too, Elio," she looked back at Eden, and at the latter's brother. Iit was funny sometimes, seeing how different the two siblings looked despite being siblings. Eden with her beautiful strawberry blonde hair, tanned skin and brown eyes as beautiful as the earths' soil, while Elio had almost completely black, tousled locks and fairer skin, with a hue of green and brown eyes, the hues of nature itself. She wasted a second to think about how it wasn't widely known that Eden was adopted, afterall, not even Elio knew. He always thought his big sister was, well, his big sister. Luna pulled herself out of her thoughts and responded softly, "Thank you both."
Elio looked at his sister expectantly, and she nodded in approval, making the younger boy beam. "We've got something for you, Luna!" he exclaimed, radiating joy. He quickly grabbed a box from outside the door, and placed it on Luna's lap.
The princess glanced back and forth between the two siblings, suspicion settling over her. She's gotten many a crawling surprise from the young boy before, and wasn't quite sure what to expect, as she lifted the top of the carton box slowly.
But to her surprise and delight, she was met with a cute little orange kitty, squished into a corner of the box in fear. Luna picked it up, and gently cradled it in her arms, too stunned to speak.
So Eden asked her instead, "What do you think, Luna? Will you keep him?" She had picked out this little cat for Luna, hoping it would offer some solace after the incident just yesterday. It was no secret that Luna liked animals, afterall she had always wanted one, but her father, like always, had said no. Well, it wasn't like she was staying here for long now anyways.
Luna just nodded in agreement as she scratched the kitties chin. It started purring in her hands, eyes closed in contentment, as though it knew it was in safe hands. The princess looked up at her cousins, whispering in a choked voice, "thank you. You are the best cousins I could as for."
Elio took a seat next to her, gently scratcing the cat behind its little ears, "Can I suggest you some names, Lune? I already thought of 'Sir Fluffball' or 'Mister Purrington'!"
"Well, considering I didn't expect to get a cat now, I think I'll go with 'Mister Purrington'. Its quite lovely indeed," She said, holding up the cat in the air and booping its nose, "Aren't you just a cute Mister?"
The younger boy seemed exhilarated at her choice, and gave his cousin a big hug, as well as petting the cat over the head once more.
Just then, Eden felt a hand over her shoulder as she watched the two hug. It was no other than Sato herself, giving her a slight nod. She understood, and gently tugged Elio off their cousin. "I think we should take our leave now, Elio. Let Luna have a little peace now." The older girl turned to Luna, the cat already nestled comfortably in her lap, fear long gone. "And send me pics of Mister Purrington, will you?"
"Of course, Eden. I'll call you later, take care," The princess answered, holding the cat a little tighter.
As the two siblings turned to leave, Sato took the kitty from Luna, and placed him on the floor, to let him explore a little. She placed a bowl of milk she had prepared in advance on the floor, watching as the kitty drank.