Unexpected

SPECIAL CHAPTER UPDATE

AFTERMATH ON LUNA

2 weeks later:

Cinder stood on the balcony jutting out from her palatial room, eyes fixed on the sprawling city of Artemisia. The white pristine buildings, marble floors, and the radiant lights. She let out a breath and placed her hands on the railing, recalling what had happened in the last two weeks.

It'd been hectic. 

The World Leaders had decided to have some time alone, which meant Luna and Earth's relations were put on a pause for everything. No traveling, no visits. The agreement had been two months to get everything stable and certain. Not to mention Cinder had matters to return to. She'd bid Kai a somber farewell and they'd parted ways. 

The next visit was scheduled in two months, to regard the incident again and to also renew the contracts and the Peace Treaty.

With the help of Iko and her friends, Cinder managed to quench down the thaumaturges' brief uprising. Nobody dared to defy her now, much less argue with her publicly. The Lunar Court was thriving, and Cinder's head of Foreign Affairs was Viviana.

The time they spent together, they became close friends. Cinder appointed Casper the head of security and the thaumaturges, gaining him well-found respect and power in the society. Iko stayed by Cinder's side, remaining best friends. Kinney and Casper developed a newfound friendship. Viviana, the ever-so cunning and sassy Lunar took advantage of her position and demoted Rosaline Thompson so she could keep a steady eye on her.

In fact, there was a dinner celebration tonight hosting the flourishment of Luna and their highly successful court and rule.

Cinder had taken Clover back with her, as promised, and the girl was now serving imprisonment, after refusing to reveal anything or than why she committed the crime. Cinder knew there was an ulterior and alternate reason of why she had stabbed Kai, but the girl was adamant on keeping her mouth shut. They never found out.

"Cinder? Are you okay?" Viviana's silky voice came from behind her.

Cinder turned and smiled. "Hey," she sighed. "I was just thinking about everything that happened." She took one look at Viviana and smirked. "You're dressed up and ready to go."

"A lot has happened, huh?" Viviana moved to stand beside Cinder and gazed at Artemisia, with a distant and thoughtful glint in her eye. The sunset's faint light reached Viviana's dress. She was wearing a sleek, figure-hugging beautiful midnight blue dress decorated with diamonds. Peacock feathers dangled from her ears. Viviana's dark hair was piled in an immaculate design on her head. She looked breathtaking. "Yeah. So should you. I'll help."

Cinder snickered. "No, you're not helping. Remember the last time you tried to dress me up?"

Viviana scowled and pressed a hand to her chest, mocking anger. "Now that was a low blow. Ultimately that disaster was your fault. You were the one who rushed to get everything done because you weren't gonna make it on time."

"It didn't help that I showed up to the trial looking like someone had dragged me through a bunch of brambles and back again," Cinder retorted, chuckling at the memory. Viviana had been running around the room like a chicken with it's head sliced off. 

Especially when Cinder was screaming and trying to find her gown and gloves, Viviana didn't keep her cool and freaked out, a rare sight for the epitome of control and power in the Lunar Court.

"You don't do well in a crisis." Cinder laughed and walked back into her room, wandering straight to her wardrobe. Iko had laid out the gown and gloves beforehand so they didn't have to repeat the frantic scene of last time. "Fine, you can help me with the hair. Your's is gorgeous, by the way."