"Luna, are you sure? You're not joking?" Milo asked, his voice thick with both hope and doubt.
"Are you crazy?" Vivi cut in, a teary smile on her lips. "You know how cringe it is when Luna tries to joke."
"Father," Alpha gently stepped forward, reaching down to where Caelum still knelt frozen on the floor. He helped him up and led him to the single armchair he had been sitting in earlier.
Caelum sat slowly, still shaken, but his eyes had regained some clarity.
"I'm sorry, children," he said softly once he found his voice again. "We have to go see her."
Everyone nodded eagerly, everyone except Pixie, who remained silent, and Luna, who suddenly spoke.
"No," she said firmly.
Heads snapped toward her.
"Luna, don't be selfish!" Neko snapped, anger flashing in his eyes.
"I'm not," Luna replied, calm but resolute. "This is an experiment."
"What do you mean, Luna?" Alpha asked, his brows furrowed.
Luna sat down beside Neko and looked around at her father, her siblings, and then at Delphine and the three Saintess Knights behind her.
"Mother and I believe that Lucifer is sabotaging every chance she has to see Father. The humans can confirm what I'm about to say," she began. "When Tofu met Mother for the first time… she didn't recognize him."
"That's impossible," Nugget said, shaking her head. "I would believe it if Mother didn't recognize me, or Alpha, Bear, Neko, Milo, Vivi, but Pixie? You? Peanut? And especially Tofu? That only makes sense if she forgot Father completely."
"Please, everyone," Luna said, raising a hand. "Sit down. I'll tell you everything, just let me finish before interrupting."
The tension in the room dimmed. Slowly, the others took their seats. Alpha lifted Pixie and settled her on his lap. Cosmo, ever efficient, conjured extra seats for Delphine and the knights.
Luna took a breath.
"For Mother, it's been less than a year since she left Earth," she began.
And then, piece by piece, she told them everything, the story Ceres had shared with her and her court in Aquilonis.
She told them how Ceres couldn't recognize Tofu.
How she couldn't see the resemblance between Tofu and Caelum.
How Tofu, for some inexplicable reason, couldn't call her Mother so he has claimed her as his human instead.
How he had tried to bring her to the Black Tower but was thwarted when she fell into a Dream Spell. How, inside that dream, she had stood before two tombs, hers and Caelum's, and had gone into shock.
How, when she woke up, she had forgotten who she was… and only remembered being the First Princess of Vaelundis.
"She only recovered her memory after meeting Evadne," Luna continued, voice cracking just slightly. "The real First Princess, who is now living on Earth as her younger sister. It was Evadne who told her the truth. That you, Father… are here. In Solmara."
Luna scanned the room, watching their expressions change.
"If you think about it… there were so many moments, so many chances, for them to realize the truth. To find each other. And every single time, something stopped it from happening."
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Tofu wants to bring her here again. Now, especially that she remembers everything. But I… I disagreed."
She looked down.
"The first time, it was just a Dream Spell. But what if next time… it's worse? What if she doesn't just lose memories, what if she loses herself?"
Her voice trembled.
Her fists clenched in her lap. She didn't even notice that her hands were shaking… or that tears were slipping down her cheeks until Milo silently offered her a handkerchief.
Luna nodded in thanks, pressing it to her eyes.
"So what's the experiment about?" Peanut asked, her tone gentler now.
"When Tofu told us he felt a force stopping him from telling Mother the truth… I didn't believe him at first," Luna admitted. "But then I felt it too. I wanted to tell all of you the moment I arrived… but I couldn't. It was like something sealed my throat. Something wrapped around my heart. Until Delphine did what she did… and father reacted… I couldn't even say the words."
She paused, wiping her cheeks.
"Before Evadne left, she gave Mother a message. One she received from the Angel Uriel."
She looked at them all.
"In the darkness of the night… the moon is the strongest source of light."
Luna turned to her father, a soft smile blooming on her face.
"Remember?" she asked gently. "That was what you told her, the reason you gave her, when you insisted my name should be Luna."
Caelum nodded slowly, his eyes distant with memory.
"And because of my Oathbreaker ability," Luna continued, "Mother and Seiryu believed I might be the loophole in your deal with Lucifer. But I had doubts. I'm bound to you. I thought that made it the one oath I couldn't break."
She paused for a moment, her voice quiet but steady.
"That's why Mother came up with this experiment. She didn't explain anything to us. She only said… we'd know. If I am the loophole, then we'd finally understand. And if I'm not… at least we'd know how far Lucifer would go to keep the two of you apart."
She looked toward her siblings now, meeting their gazes one by one.
"Of course I want you to see her," she said. "She wants to see all of you too. And Tofu believes, no, he knows, that we need all hands on deck this time. Especially Father's."
She exhaled slowly, her eyes solemn.
"But we don't know what will happen if we all just show up in Aquilonis without thinking. If we walk blindly into it… Lucifer won't just sit back and watch. And if you really think about it…"
Her voice dropped.
"…if Father sees her again, he no longer needs to fulfill his end of the deal."
A heavy silence blanketed the room.
They all understood now.
Luna was right.
But still… the yearning to see their mother, the woman who had given them another chance at life, burned inside every one of them.
Slowly, their eyes drifted to Caelum.
Waiting for his decision.
He didn't look at them when he spoke.
"Will you please leave me alone for now?" he said in a low whisper.
No one questioned it.
One by one, his children rose and left Alpha's office in silence.
When Delphine stepped outside last, she paused as she heard Luna call out.
"Delphine. Wait a moment."
Delphine turned, eyebrows slightly raised.
Luna's gaze flicked to the Saintess Knights behind her, Cecilion, Renee, and Robin. The unspoken command in her eyes was clear.
Keep your distance.
The knights hesitated, visibly displeased… but stepped away.
Once they were far enough, Luna raised her hand and summoned a shimmering mist of shadow, cloaking her and Delphine in a sphere of silence.
"Don't worry," Luna said, her voice calm. "I just want to make sure no one hears what I'm about to tell you."
Delphine nodded.
"Tomorrow, your agreement with Father ends," Luna said plainly. "Go back to Aquilonis. You no longer have a reason to stay here."
Delphine's breath caught.
"I…"
"Are you going to betray her?" Luna asked bluntly.
Delphine blinked, caught off guard. "What?"
""If there's one person in all of Solmara who has seen my mother's pain, it's you," Luna said, voice low and sharp. "You've stood beside her. You've watched her fall apart over and over again because she missed my father."
Delphine swallowed.
"So tell me. Knowing that, witnessing that," Luna pressed, "are you going to betray her?"
She didn't look angry. She looked… cold.
Certain.
"I've seen the way you look at Father, Delphine," Luna continued. "That kind of look? I've seen it more times than I can count in this life. A thousand times. A million. Don't insult me by pretending I'm wrong."
Delphine clenched her jaw, her body stiff.
And despite the pain coiling in her chest, she looked at Luna, the face that mirrored her Empress so closely.
And she knew.
Even before her feelings could fully grow… she would have to kill them.
Because she had already lost.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Luna," she said evenly. "But to answer your question… I will never betray my Empress."
Her voice was steady, her heart quietly breaking beneath it.
"Good," Luna said coldly. "Then make sure you keep your feelings to yourself."
And with that, the shadow mist vanished.
Luna turned and walked away, leaving Delphine alone in the silence, heart aching with a love she never had a chance to claim.
Caelum stood by the window, his golden eyes fixed on the distant direction of Aquilonis. In his hand, he held the letter, the one written in Ceres's unmistakable handwriting.
"I don't know what game you're playing, Lucifer," he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, speaking to the empty air. "But I'm done playing by your rules."
He looked down at the delicate strokes on the paper, his grip tightening ever so slightly.
"This time… you'll play by mine."
With purposeful steps, Caelum turned and strode out of Alpha's office, heading toward the highest floor of the Black Tower.
Meanwhile, inside Pixie's bedchamber, Delphine found the young girl curled on her bed, shoulders shaking.
"Regent?" Delphine's voice was soft, full of concern as she rushed to her. "What's wrong?"
She gently lifted the child into her lap, cradling her in a warm embrace.
"Everyone's going to leave the Black Tower now," Pixie said through sniffles.
Delphine stroked her back, soothing her gently. "Aren't you happy? You'll see your mama again, after such a long time."
"Mama doesn't know me," Pixie whispered between sobs, making Delphine still.
Pixie's small voice was trembling with fear. "What if… she doesn't like me? Because I'm noisy? Because I'm not a good girl?"
Delphine pulled back slightly to see her face, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"What do you mean, Regent?" she asked gently. "Why would you think your mama doesn't know you?"
Pixie wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
"There are no demi-humans on Earth," she said, voice cracking. "And… we're not humans either. On Earth, me and my brothers and sisters… we were animals."
Delphine's eyes widened in shock.
"Alpha, Bear, Nugget, Peanut, Milo, they were dogs," Pixie continued, sniffling. "And me, Vivi, Neko, Luna, and Tofu… we were cats. Except for me… all of them were rescued by Mama."
Her voice broke then.
"But I wasn't."
Delphine felt her breath catch.
The truth struck hard.
So that was it.
That answered everything, the unnatural youth of Caelum despite having children like Alpha and Orso.
They weren't truly born of his flesh.
"Then how do you look so much like your mama?" Delphine asked softly, unable to stop the question.
Pixie's tearful eyes met hers. "Because the Dark Angel made it that way. When we died… we died together with Papa. And his blood… it mixed with ours. That's how we became his children."
"You… died?" Delphine whispered.
Pixie nodded solemnly. "Yes. Mama, too. Don't you remember? I told you. She died in Papa's arms."
She swallowed.
"And Papa… he had a hard time without her. So when our shelter caught fire, even though he could've gotten out, he didn't."
Pixie's voice was fragile.
"Because he wanted to follow Mama into death."
Delphine felt the crushing weight of guilt fall over her chest.
Ceres's death… it was an accident.
But Caelum's?
His was a choice.
Because he couldn't live without her.
And here Delphine was… selfishly hoping she might one day earn a piece of Caelum's heart. Not even knowing it was her Empress who owned it all along.
She felt stupid. Small. Disloyal.
She clenched her jaw and made a vow, right then and there.
Let Luna be the only one who ever discovered what she felt for Caelum. Her Empress was sharp, far too perceptive. If she sensed even the faintest stirrings of affection in Delphine's heart, she would know.
So before that could happen… Delphine would bury it. She would kill it.
She would lie, even to herself.
And make sure she believed the lie.
Because that was the only way she could ever convince her Empress.
"Don't worry, Regent," Delphine said with a warm smile, steadying her voice. "I'm very, very sure the Empress will love you."
Pixie sniffled.
"Not just like, but love. She's the kindest person I know. And in Aquilonis, all the children adore her… just as much as she adores them."
Delphine tucked a strand of Pixie's hair behind her ear and kissed her forehead gently.
"So you don't have to worry, okay?"
Pixie nodded against her chest, still sniffling, but calmer now.
Delphine held her tighter.
And prayed to whatever gods watched from above…
That when she finally stood before the Empress again, she would be strong enough to forget this love, this forbidden, foolish love she should have never allowed to bloom in the first place.
And while she was still mourning that unspoken affection, while cradling Pixie close and comforting her with soft words and quiet strength, Delphine saw it.
Fireworks.
She and Pixie locked eyes in stunned silence. Without speaking, Delphine rose, carrying the girl in her arms, and stepped out onto the veranda of her chamber.
"Wow…" Pixie gasped, her earlier sorrow forgotten as her golden eyes lit up in awe.
They weren't the only ones watching.
Everyone in the Black Tower had turned their eyes skyward.
Because this wasn't just a celebration.
This wasn't an ordinary show of lights.
These fireworks didn't just illuminate the night sky over Malvakar or the Velrathis Empire, they crossed the skies beyond the Blinding Mist, seen in every kingdom of Solmara. Regardless of whether it was night or day, the Human Magic Towers had captured and magnified its brilliance.
And far north, beyond the Mist, within the heart of Aquilonis, another crowd stood in silent wonder.
Ceres stood on the balcony of her bedchamber, eyes raised to the sky, mouth parted in awe.
The most beautiful fireworks she had ever seen bloomed across the heavens.
Tuf stepped beside her.
"Mother," he said softly, watching the lights dance in the sky. "He received your message, didn't he?"
"Yes," Ceres whispered.
Tears of joy slipped down her cheeks, unhidden, unashamed.
She lifted her hand toward the stars.
"Meteor shower," she commanded.
And the heavens obeyed.
As the final wave of fireworks exploded across the firmament, streaks of light began to fall, meteors, bright and burning, tracing lines of silver and fire across the sky.
And just like the fireworks, they were seen across the world.
All of Solmara watched as the stars wept with joy.
And somewhere, far away, on the highest tower of the Black Tower, Caelum watched.
He saw it.
And he knew.
No words were spoken, yet the oath they made was felt, powerful, silent, and binding.
Across kingdoms.
Across all things that tried to keep them apart.
Ceres Evadne Valeria, Empress of Aquilonis.
And Caelum, the Demon Lord of Solmara.
Each whispered the same vow beneath the celestial rain.
"I will see you soon, Love."