"I hope you will come again, Sister Luna," Diana waved, observing Luna leave the mansion after discussing some family-related matters.
"Yeah, going, going, but you have to tell me about that boy," Luna replied without turning, moving out of the hallway.
She couldn't find much information from Diana's words but was somewhat relieved, knowing she doesn't have to worry about Diana's safety now.
"Sure," Diana said as her hand slowly loosened, and a smile formed on her face.
She turned towards her room, entered, and closed the door behind her.
'So, she is unaware of Ryuk's presence.' Diana made her way towards one of the drawers in the room, placing her hand on a statue before turning its body to the left.
CRUMBLE
Suddenly, the wall started to tremble before opening, revealing a pathway leading to another space.
Slowly, Diana made her way inside the now-opened doors before the walls enclosed again.
tap tap
In the dimly lit room, the sounds of footsteps reverberated as Diana moved through it.
Her destination was the space present at the end of the long hallway.
Slowly, the light became more vivid.
The moment her foot touched the floor inside that space, an enormous area became visible to her.
"Finally!" Diana's eyes reflected a huge wall filled with paintings, several small figures made of soft material embroidered, while keeping the originality of the figure intact—amber eyes and black hair adorned with an expressionless face.
Diana observed all the portraits and figures of a boy with amber eyes, making her way directly towards a very big mirror.
Arriving in front of it, her eyes fell on the reflection of a blue-haired girl looking back at her.
WHOOSH
A smile formed on her face; slowly, her face and body started to morph, beginning with the eyes turning amber, then her face transformed into a familiar visage whose portraits and figures filled the whole room.
Her clothes started to shift into those of a boy's.
Within mere seconds, the reflection of an amber-eyed boy, with fair complexion and clothed in a black suit, looked back at Diana.
badump
Suddenly, her form again turned into that of a seventeen-year-old girl with blue hair and the same colored eyes before collapsing onto the floor.
Thud
"Haa...Haa..." Diana clenched her heart, feeling it racing at an unprecedented speed.
Her eyes became hazy, trembling hand slowly moving towards her face before sliding down after caressing her lips, which were parted due to gasping.
"Ahhh, you will kill me, Ryuk~♡!!" Diana cried out, feeling how just looking at that figure, even if she knew it was her, her heart was about to burst out of her chest.
Her eyes met her own reflection, the smile on her face defining the euphoria she felt right now, but instead of a fake one, she longed for her beloved in reality.
'It's fine, Ryuk. Just some years more, only seven or eight.' Her fingers, trembling with excitement, touched the mirror surface, an electrifying sensation running through her. 'I have enough patience to have you, my love~'
For her, the love she held for that individual was not something that could be erased with the mere passage of time, which seemed to heal every wound.
Her Love was evident from the fact that, to others, it was just six years, but for her, it was 208 years and another two— all without seeing her beloved.
Though she would not have included these past two years but even being inside the Heindal Continent, she never once entered the borders of the Selvius Kingdom.
From previous life experiences, she was aware that Ryuk could somehow feel her presence.
It was appreciable, showcasing how much their love for each other proved itself.
'I thought that after regaining your memories, you wouldn't save that woman.' Diana felt hurt, aware of how she had orchestrated Karina Reinguard's premature downfall, preventing her from rising and becoming strong by dealing with the king of Aidiac Kingdom by transforming herself into Ryuk von Selvius.
But on her way, she received news about the Reinguards visiting the Selvius kingdom.
Diana's approach was entirely different in this life.
Her goal was to become stronger than her beloved so that, unlike before, he couldn't even harm her after discovering that she was the reason for his mother's disappearance.
"But, I just wanted to make you alone." Diana's eyes became wet as she saw how she was misunderstood.
Her heart ached, knowing how every initiative she took was seen as betrayal when all she wanted was to take everyone from his side and make him depend on her.
SWOOSH
Saying that, Lucius disappeared from his throne, leaving behind others. No one seemed to care about upcoming matters; instead, they preferred going back to Aurora to become even stronger, causing everyone to leave.
"M-mother?" Clara turned to look at Samantha, who slowly stood and moved out of the hallway, making Clara understand the meaning behind her mother's stance and following behind her.
Luna slowly descended, placing her hand on the little girl's hair, ruffling it. A smile formed on her face. "So, Little Dia, are you going to keep acting like this, even in front of your big sis?"
Slowly lifting her gaze, Diana's eyes met with the only member in the whole Riantain family who stood by her side since birth.
Biologically, both Luna and Diana were not blood-related, even though they had different mothers. Still, Luna cared for Diana more than her own sisters.
On the other side, Diana's own sister Clara always tried to look down on her.
"Sister Luna, I don't want to die."
Luna's eyes widened, hearing such words from Diana's mouth.
Her eyes softened at the little girl who clenched her dress, those words carrying a plea to somehow survive.
"You think I will let anything happen to you." Leaning to Diana's level, Luna offered a small letter to her before continuing. "When you arrive there, give this to Alisia and also reveal your identity as Luna's lil sissy, okay?"
Diana nodded, feeling grateful and warm within her heart. 'I will have to delay things until I awaken my bloodline.'
Her aim was not to act rashly until she awakened her bloodline, clenching the letter.
Finally, the day had arrived for her to depart for the Heindal Continent and the moment to meet that woman had come.
.
.
.
.
Moonlight slowly made its way inside one of the rooms belonging to Selvius Kingdom's royal palace before accentuating a figure.
"Heh, not changed at all, aren't you, Luna?" Alisia's face formed a smile, looking at the letter which mentioned about her protecting Diana, and in exchange, Luna would make sure to protect Ryuk.
Though Alisia had already mentioned this when they were arriving at the Heindal Continent, knowing that protecting Diana for some time would make sure Luna follows her side of the deal, evident from the small mana circle drawn at bottom of the letter.
The circle carried the mana from Luna who had proposed this contract, which Alisia could easily discard, but knowing how much helpful Luna's support can be, she injected her mana too.
SWOOSH
With that, a deal was finalized.
Diana would stay under Alisia's protection until she herself wanted to leave, and in exchange, even if Luna had to place her life, she would protect Ryuk—a profitable deal indeed.
"So, you are the little lamb Luna mentioned here." Alisia sat in her chair, chin resting on her palm which was supported by desk, observing the trembling girl with amusement at her acting skills.
"Y-yes." Diana feigned weakness, but her heart was also not calm due to being in front of a figure whose mere name was enough to threaten several continents.
Though it seemed exaggerated, but in truth, being a bookworm, Diana had read about Ardoros, and among one of them, it was mentioned how Vampires had submitted themselves to the Devereaux family.
Eternal Eclipse, Twilight's End, or Bloodhunt—these were the names of the massacres fallen upon the Almighty Vampires by one of the Flagbearers, Alisia Devereaux.
A single one-sided battle changed the whole world's perspective about the youngest daughter of the Devereaux family, and though some called it exaggeration or even a fluke.
But smoke never forms without fire, and already knowing every truth from her sister's mouth, Diana knew the true extent of power held by this woman.
It was already known how Alisia's Energy core was destroyed, but still, why no one tried to attack her on the way to this small continent in the vast ocean?
Fear
"Stop wasting your efforts in acting and also, don't disturb Ryuk, since I don't want to break Luna's heart." Alisia pulled back, rising from her chair, her finger tracing the desk as she moved.
GASP
'So, this was the reason.' Those words contained far more coldness and intensity even being spoken in a melodious tone that it sent a chill down Diana's spine.
Helping her understand that it was merely fear preventing her enemies from taking action, even though they were aware of her weakened state.
"I understand, Lady—" Diana bowed before being interrupted by a sound.
knock knock
"May I come in, Mother?"