96 The Sky Gods Remorse (1/2)
”TO BE HONEST, I'm not really sure about what happened between the first Supreme and the Black Serpent,” Sentinel said. ”I was just a little boy when the conflict among the Beast Gods occurred. All I know is the Black Serpent ripped the heart of the Supreme and gave it to the Moonchesters. To save the Supreme, the Red Phoenix gave his heart to her. And that's the reason why the Red Phoenix hates the Black Serpent.”
”But why does the Black Serpent hate the Red Phoenix?” Luna asked curiously. ”And when Duke Nystrom almost awakened, his behavior changed. It was as if he suddenly hated Lady Nystrom and the heart. Did the Black Serpent hate the Supreme in the past?”
”I'm not sure,” the young boy said. ”It was very complicated. I think the Black Serpent was forced to choose between his love for the Supreme and his duty to the Moonchesters.”
Her brows furrowed in confusion. ”The Supreme and the Black Serpent were lovers?”
”They were married.”
She gasped in surprise. ”So, the history is repeating itself with Lady Nystrom and Duke Nystrom now?”
”Let's hope that the history wouldn't repeat itself, Luna,” he said while shaking his head. ”Another bloody war would break out if it happened again. And to prevent that from happening, the Black Serpent in Kiho Nystrom should never awaken.”
”If they're not supposed to be together, then why did the heavens let Lady Nystrom and Duke Nystrom conceive a child?”
”Because the Moon Serpent has to be born,” he said firmly. ”Only beings as powerful as the Supreme and the Black Serpent could conceive the child that the gods favor.”
”The Moon Serpent?” she asked in surprise. ”The duke and the duchess's child is the Moon Serpent? And how come the Moon Serpent is favored by the gods? I thought it was a monster that ate the moons out of greediness.”
”That's not true,” he denied. ”The Moon Serpent is a god in his own right. He was summoned to stop the war among the moons.”
”But if I remember the legend right, the last moon was sent by the sky god to earth to kill the Moon Serpent, right?”
”The last moon tricked the sky god,” he said. ”I don't know how or why but the last moon managed to make the sky god believe that the Moon Serpent must perish.”
”The last moon is the first Moonchester, right?”
He nodded. ”Despicable, aren't they?”
”Uh-huh,” she agreed. ”The Moon Serpent died unfairly.”
”That's true,” he said. ”The sky god regretted trusting the last moon. But when he turned the last moon, he blessed him with divine powers that not even him could kill the Moonchester anymore.”
”So, that's the reason why the Moonchesters are very powerful.”
”Did they conceive the Moon Serpent before?”
”Yes. But the Moonchesters had realized that the child that the Supreme had was the Moon Serpent. They killed the child even before it was born.”
”Oh, god.”
”That's the reason why the Supreme put a forbidden spell on the Moonchesters. That spell forbids the Moonchesters from reproducing from people outside their family. And also, she put a curse on the first princess that affects Her Royal Highness until now,” the young boy said. ”That was how angry the Supreme was.”
”Now I understand the root of anger between the Moonchesters and the first Supreme,” she said while shaking her head. ”But if His Majesty already knows that Lady Nystrom's child is the Moon Serpent, why is he waiting for the child to be born?”
”I'm not sure but I believe that His Majesty wants to use the Moon Serpent against the sky god,” Sentinel said. ”I don't why though.”
”I still have so many questions, Sentinel.”
”I've already told you what I know,” he said. ”Right now, our goal is to keep Duke Nystrom from awakening. Not until Lady Nystrom finds the Red Phoenix first.”
”We have to babysit them.”
”Yes,” he confirmed. ”We have to take care of them. And if possible, we have to separate them once the Black Serpent awakens.”
”Separate them?” Luna asked in surprise. ”Why?”
”If both of them retrieved their old memories, they might kill each other at first sight,” Sentinel said seriously. ”So we better pray to gods that the duke and the duchess's current love for each other is strong enough to erase their old wound.”
***
TILLY couldn't help but smile while watching Kiho in the mirror.
She was sitting in front of the vanity mirror while her husband was standing behind her. He had a look of concentration on his handsome face while braiding her hair.
Yes, he's braiding my hair and he's very good at it.
According to Kiho, he wanted to assist her in any way possible because she didn't have her maids.
We assigned Louisa to take care of the guests.
It was fine with her because Kiho was obviously having a good time ”helping” her, especially while they were taking a bath together this morning.
Gosh, let's not think about that for now.
”Hon, why are you good at braiding?” Tilly asked curiously. ”Where did you learn it from?”
”I used to have a long hair,” Kiho said. ”Longer than yours.”
She gasped in surprise. ”Really? How old were you then?”
Gosh, she could imagine Kiho with long hair. He already had a pretty face so she was so sure that long hair would also suit him well.
”I had a long hair ever since I can remember,” he said. ”When I met His Majesty, I had a long hair. He used to braid my hair for me. And then, eventually, he taught me how to braid my hair on my own.”
She felt a hint of sadness in Kiho's voice.
Despite everything, His Majesty is still close to his heart.
”Sorry, honey,” Kiho said. ”I shouldn't have told you that story.”
”It's okay, Kiho,” she said with a smile. ”Just because His Majesty is an enemy now doesn't mean that you could easily forget the fond memories you have with him.”
”Don't worry, honey. I won't let those memories take over,” he assured her. ”My resolve to protect you and Winter from the emperor is unshakable.”
”I know that, hon.”
He just kissed the top of her head as a response. Then, he looked at her in the mirror. ”I'm done, honey.”
She looked at her reflection in the mirror and she was pleased with his work.
Kiho tied her hair in a pretty lace braid. With her peach dress with mesh top, she looked like a princess from a D*sney movie.
”You're good, honey,” she said, then she looked up at him. ”You made me look like a princess.”