(Author POV)
Slowly—very slowly—Elira turned her head, her golden eyes lifting toward Cain, because he was the one who had just dropped that truth on her, the one who had said it so plainly that it left no room for doubt or denial. Somewhere deep inside, she had always known something like this would happen, that her life wasn't as simple as it seemed, that there was something waiting beyond everything she had endured—but knowing it… and hearing it out loud… were two very different things.
She was the daughter of a king and queen, a princess, a name that carried weight she had never imagined for herself, and yet—despite everything—she still felt… shocked. The word didn't feel like it belonged to her, like it was meant for someone else entirely, someone stronger, someone more prepared.
Elira took a deep breath and let out a nervous laugh, the sound uneven as she awkwardly pointed at herself, raising an eyebrow as if asking, Me? Maria understood immediately and nodded, her expression gentle but certain, leaving no space for misunderstanding.
After shooting Cain a sharp glare for his bluntness, Maria stepped forward, her presence soft but steady. "You are the daughter of the King and Queen of Kraelion… Princess Elira Charla Crimson," she said, bowing her head slightly in respect.
Elira stiffened instantly. She wasn't used to this—this kind of respect, this kind of acknowledgment. It felt unfamiliar, almost uncomfortable, like she didn't know where to place herself anymore.
"When the Sundering War began, and your parents stepped onto the battlefield… you were barely one or two months old," Maria continued, her voice calm but filled with something deeper. Elira looked at her, frozen, every word sinking in slowly.
"Don't think that they didn't care about you," Maria added gently, as if she could already see the thoughts forming in Elira's mind. "They cherished you. They were overjoyed when they found out their child was a daughter."
A small smile appeared on Maria's face, soft and full of memory. "I still remember when Kral found out. He celebrated across all of Auroraea. The entire sky lit up with colors that night."
Cain chuckled softly at that, the sound carrying a warmth that hadn't been there before. "He wouldn't stop talking about it for days," he added, shaking his head slightly.
"Everyone was happy. Even us," Maria said, glancing at Cain briefly before looking back at Elira. "We were your parents' closest friends. We grew up together… along with the others."
"We're your godparents," Cain said casually.
Maria went completely still.
Then she turned her head slowly and gave him a flat, unimpressed look that said everything without a single word.
Elira noticed the silent exchange immediately, her lips twitching slightly despite everything. Yeah… he definitely has a habit of dropping bombs, she thought.
Maria sighed softly and looked back at Elira, her expression apologetic. "Sorry… he tends to say things without warning." She hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice softening even more. "You don't have to accept us. It's okay. We understand."
She knew. She understood what Elira had been through, the kind of life she had lived. Trust wasn't something that came easily, and relationships weren't built in a moment.
Elira looked away, scrunching her nose slightly as she processed everything, her thoughts tangled but not as heavy as they should have been. "It's okay," she said quietly after a moment. "And… it would be nice to have godparents."
Maria froze.
"Y-You… don't have a problem with that?" she asked, her voice almost hesitant, like she didn't want to hope too much.
Elira glanced at her and gave a small nod, then looked down again. She had never really had relationships in her life, never had something that felt like family. But if she was starting over… if this was truly a new beginning… then why not start with this?
A slow, hopeful smile spread across Maria's face, her eyes softening with emotion. "So…?" she prompted gently, clasping her hands together in anticipation.
Elira looked at her, confused for a second, before realization hit. She pressed her lips together, slightly embarrassed, then cleared her throat awkwardly. "Ah… Aunt… Auntie Maria," she said, her voice quieter than usual.
The moment the words left her mouth, she immediately looked down, her face heating up. She had never called someone like that before—not with genuine feeling, not like this.
Maria stared at her for a second.
And then her eyes filled with tears.
Before Elira could react, Maria stepped forward and pulled her into a tight hug. "Thank you… thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Elira blinked in surprise, completely caught off guard. All I did was call her Auntie… she thought, unsure how that led to this reaction.
Not knowing what else to do, she awkwardly hugged her back, her movements hesitant as she gently patted her. "It's okay…" she murmured.
That only made Maria cry harder.
Elira froze.
…I definitely did something wrong.
Cain, watching from the side, softened slightly, his usual smirk fading as he observed the scene. He understood exactly why Maria reacted that way, even if Elira didn't.
After a while, Maria calmed down, though her eyes were still slightly red. She pulled back slowly and gently cupped Elira's face, her touch careful, almost reverent. "You look just like Charlotte," she said softly. "Your face, your nose, your hair… everything."
Then her gaze shifted to Elira's eyes.
"But your eyes… those are your father's. Golden, with that red ring. The same strength… and the same hidden softness."
She let out a quiet chuckle. "You're a perfect mix of both of them. Your mother's sass… and your father's playfulness—and temper."
Elira tilted her head slightly, processing that.
Maria raised an eyebrow playfully, a hint of mischief returning to her expression. "Can I tell you something?"
Elira nodded slowly, curious now.
"Your parents were once mortal enemies."
Elira's eyes widened instantly. "What?"
Cain burst out laughing, the sound loud and uncontrollable as he held his side slightly.
Elira looked at him, completely confused, then turned back to Maria, gesturing for her to explain. If they were enemies… then how did they end up together?
Cain wiped the corner of his eye, still chuckling as he tried to compose himself. "Your parents' chemistry was something else," he said, shaking his head. "Even now, their love story is told across all seven realms."
Elira blinked, her confusion only growing as she turned back to Maria again, waiting for an explanation.
Maria pressed her lips together, clearly trying not to laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly as she struggled to keep a straight face.