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outofthefires · 24 days ago

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A Rose from the Ashes. SL03 - A Tale by Cinder & Kaito - Part 3

Continues from Part 2 Here

Cinder

While Doctor Erland spoke, my attention stayed on the screen. Witnessing the antidote destroying the plague within #Peony gave me a sense of relief and great joy.

This feeling was much better in comparison to the screen he had shown me with my blood samples and how my blood naturally reacted to the disease infecting my body. At the time, I never thought about the fact that I would have to be infected again if it meant that those I loved would need me to find a cure.

But now, I wasn’t the only answer to everyone’s concerns. We had been handed an alternative solution, one that worked! But… the important thing was that we had to make a deal with the devil herself!!

A tone-deaf person would have gushed about her sister’s health and the reason for the misery of their life disappearing. However, even at my most difficult times, I hadn’t forgotten the truth about what all this could mean for Kai.

We couldn’t talk when the doctor was listening. Of course, there were things I needed from the old man leaving the room, but for now, my eyes were darting between my sister and my friend.

There were signs of my #Peony coming back to her former self. Her eyes weren’t as dull as moments before, her smile small, but it was in place. The doll in her hands gave her so much joy. And the Hope within me was being fed with every change coming to light.

However, when my gaze moved back to Kai… it was a stark contrast. His eyes were full of hope, but grief too. There was nothing like the feeling of seeing him this way for me to grasp to describe the situation. I was lost for words. But I had to try.

“Kai… what did the doctor mean by knowing what happened to you at lunchtime?”

I knew the queen had seen me; I knew she had mind-controlled his people. But that wasn’t what the old man had been saying. Or it didn’t feel that way to me. Something more must have come to light.

Kaito

I was watching Peony on the screens and Cinder’s question pulled me back to reality. “Oh…” I shook myself back into focus. “The #Queen tested me today… and I failed,” I explained plainly before elaborating. “We had a formal meal today and it seems #Levana had one of her people infiltrate the kitchen to place a mirror on her entrée dish. When she accused the server her Thaumaturge took control of the girl and threatened to force her to carve out her own eye with a knife… There wasn’t any time to talk our way out of the situation, so I told her I did it… I thought it would be funny and apologized. But it wasn’t until later that I noticed the mirror was made out of the same stuff as the chip you found in #Nainsi.”

I paused and took a deep breath… “But #SangHee is unharmed… at least… Physically unharmed.”

I was struck again by how brutal these people were. How shamelessly they tortured and killed and stripped away people’s free will as if it was nothing.

I started to pace. “And then there was that fiasco on the balcony where she brainwashed my city… and handed me this,” I grumbled leaning on the work surface closest to the screen showing Peony still humming to her doll. The Droid was done with applying the salve to her bruise-coloured sores… it wasn’t pretty… but she was clearly in less discomfort.

“From an executioner to a miracle worker in a matter of hours… she’s trying to break me…” I sighed. Because it was working.

Cinder

Horrified at the comprehension of what befell my friend within the palace walls. Within Kai’s home. His safe place, somewhere he should be at peace with the knowledge, that no harm would come to him or his staff. And yet the queen of Luna chose to show her strength at such a time when a meal was being shared. The most basic of our customs when welcoming someone into our home. She disregarded our beliefs as well as what made us human!

My senses gave another warning. Telling of the shock I felt as Kai spoke. My hand had come to my face, hiding myself, in an attempt to show nonchalance around the facts becoming known; however, it was utterly impossible to do so.

Then came the thoughts of poor #SangHee, what the woman would have endured at the time. It would certainly haunt her dreams, as well as her waking moments too. Even with Kai, stepping up to foil the queen’s games, the worker had been turned into a pawn on this undetermined chessboard, where the rules were being broken by one side, while the other’s hands were tied.

Feeling sickened to my stomach at the way Kai the prince, my friend, the boy I had fallen in love with, spoke the truth about the Luna delegation. His kindness has no boundaries, a fact proven by the fact he knew the name of the staff who had been tormented.

But this all gave strength to my decision to keep my growing feelings about him to myself. There could be no way, not on this earth, not in this lifetime where he would understand me. The cyborg parts, as well as the fact that I too had Luna in me. Even if I had only just learned this about myself.

I stood planted in my spot, giving Kai the space needed to contemplate his next steps. “She cannot break you, not if you do not allow it. You are not alone, I know she is trying extremely hard to disassociate you from those you cherish, and who cherish you. However, we cannot permit it. I refuse to!”

“Wasn’t that a clear disregard of the treaty? Harming your people, within your palace walls? Inside and outside from the balcony too?” My gaze drifted from my sister to following him. As he paced the floor. To anyone who knew this boy personally, they would understand the determination across his features.

Kaito

“The terms of their visit aren’t actually part of the treaty. #Torin thinks that accusing them of staging a potential international incident may cause an actual international incident.” I sighed heavily.

“Getting the #Queen to sign the Treaty for real… that would be… it would make it impossible for her to wage war against the nations of Earth. Then there’s this cure…” I looked at Peony again on the monitor. “It would all change the course of history.” I couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for the labs to figure out the cure and replicate it… Levana said she could produce a thousand units a month and if only half a unit worked on a child… that was a lot of cured people.

Had my Father ever faced a situation like this? I know the Queen tried to trap him in a marriage alliance, but had it ever been this dire?

“I need to speak with my advisor… He’ll need to know that Peony is well… But I’ll make sure you and your family have time with her before then.”

I turned to look at Cinder again… Stars I wished I’d kissed her when I had the chance. I took her gloved hand again and offered her a smile that was surprisingly easy to muster when I heard #Peony humming through the portscreen.

“Let’s go sit with your sister,” I said. “I’ll send #Nainsi for some food and maybe you will eat something this time… Now that she’s feeling better maybe your appetite will recover too.”

Cinder

“You are all assuming that she and her people will play by our rules. That they will honour the agreement and uphold the laws outlined.” How could Kai’s government and advocacy team not think the same as me?

“Think about it, Kai. Her actions since her arrival are telling of her need for destruction, our country, our Commonwealth, and our people. She’s come with a plan; we need to think outside the box.”

The sound of #Peony’s humming made me turn to look back in her direction. Her innocent face, the expression she wore, the way she held that doll. I couldn’t help the positive energy that she awoke within me.

“It’s not only about Pee, Kai…. For me, it’s about you too.” Nodding my head slowly I sighed. “Speak with your advisors.. of course, you should do that.”

He managed to remind me with those words, that there were people in his inner circle who knew a lot more about all of those than a young half cyborg mechanic, who hadn’t even gone to school.

I wasn’t certain I could eat; however, I didn’t want to object to the notion that food shouldn’t be consumed. He needed to eat too.

Kaito

I nodded. “Trust me… we are well aware… but this cure… If it truly works?” I shook my head. “It’ll change everything… she’s just tipped over the whole chessboard with this. We’ve lost so many… so many are suffering. When the world leaders find out about this… everything will change.”

I took my gaze from the screen and turned it back to Cinder. “We always talk about building a better future. But this disease… what we need most right now is a better present. We need the doctors to figure out this drug or we need…” There was no way around it. If they couldn’t work it out fast then what we needed was an alliance with Luna.

There was only one thing that would secure that.

“If I can secure this cure and get her to sign the Treaty too… then maybe…” I shook my head, pulling free before I spiralled. “But first let’s give the scientists time to study this thing. Maybe it will be all we need.” I smiled and before I knew it I had touched Cinder’s cheek. “Come on,” I said, quieter now. “Let’s go sit with your sister.”

I took her hand again like it was the most natural thing in the world to reach for her. We walked through the narrow, too-bright passage. I took out my port screen and asked #Nainsi to bring us food and something to drink. As we re-entered the room I saw #Peony sipping from her cup of water again. I smiled to see her capable of helping herself now. Even with her skin covered in that horrid paste.

“We’re back little flower…. How are you feeling?”

Cinder

“An alliance with the Lunar delegation and Queen.”

He didn’t say it, however, we knew where he’s thoughts were heading. My chest deflated at the loss of fight in his voice. As though he’d already given up the fight. Because even I, the person least likely to follow the gist of world politics, even I knew she wasn’t willing to sign any treaty which didn’t favour her. And when she does, she will not need Kai.

This time when Kaito took my gloved hand in his, I felt like an imposter. How could I be a friend to this boy, when I couldn’t even help him in his time of need?

I had no right to care for him, to love him, to give him my thoughts. These feelings within had to stay right there.

Mindlessly following behind, my eyes wandered over the silhouette of Kai from behind. His clothes looked crumpled; his hair messier than its usually unkept look he wore. His hand remained in mine guiding us back the way we came.

Once we were back, the blinds were open, and I could see a visible sign of improvement.

‘I’m feeling better thank you.’ She replied. ‘Cinder? Are you back too?’ I smiled tapping on the glass to gain her attention from following the sound of our voices.

“I’m right here Gōngzhǔ, they are going to have to drag me from here. Kicking and screaming!”

She even smiled a little for me, as much as she could without her sores hurting her. ‘I never doubted you.’ She looked from Kai to me. ‘Do you think Mom and Pearl will come to see me now?’ Longing in her voice.

My heart sank, because I knew they would need to be told. Did they get an update from the med droids? But maybe I still had a little time before that.

“Soon, Pee. They will be told once we are certain that the antidote is working as expected.”

‘Then maybe I can go home? IKO will be so jealous when she finds out I spent so much time speaking with you Prince Kai.’

I dropped my eyes. So much had changed since her quarantine, now wasn’t the right time to share the news with her.

Kaito

“The Treaty of Bremen was always the goal with the Lunars… long before even my father’s reign. The Earthen Union tried to get #Levana’s Father to sign it… her sister before her…” I stopped, that conversation was too close to be talking about #QueencChannery’s daughter, #PrincessSelene.

Cinder knew about my mission to locate the lost princess. But we couldn’t talk about it here, there was too much monitoring equipment. “It was just a matter of the Lunar’s… demands.” I sighed. “They have been wide-ranging and utterly unacceptable at every turn.”

My heart sank a little when #Peony asked about her mother. Should I have explained more about the aftermath of this before the girl consented to test the drug? I took Cinder’s hand again at the mention of her android Iko. I couldn’t blame her for not telling the child what had happened to her. Why would she need that sadness when she wasn’t going to live long enough to know that she was gone… but now… she would have to be told eventually.

“#Peony…” I said quietly, hesitating. “I should have told you, little flower. But it might be a little while before we can tell your mother you are getting better. “This medicine… it's still a secret. And it could be dangerous for people to know about it before we know if we can make more.” I explained. “People would get their hopes up and we don’t know all of the information yet, there could be panic… people might try to get into the quarantines to see their family members thinking they can get cured if they catch the virus.”

‘No…’ Peony looked a little panicked. ‘They can’t go there… it's awful there! They would get sick!’ As awful as it was to see her upset; the reaction was good for us.

“I know, I know. I just think it's safer if they don’t know yet. Because Mom’s… Moms are special. And your mom will be so happy that you are getting better, she might tell people… even if she thought they would keep it a secret.” I was also afraid people might target them, thinking they had access to the drug… but I didn’t want to frighten her. “People have been afraid for a long time, if they think there is hope they will talk about it… but until the cure is ready…”

She cut me off now. ‘It should be secret.’ She nodded and I could see tears in the corner of her eyes.

“I promise you. The doctors are working so hard… and we will make sure you can see your family as soon as possible. Okay? And I will visit you every single day.” I didn’t make promises for Cinder… coming and going from the palace wasn’t safe. Cinder wasn’t even supposed to be here today… but the idea of isolating this child from her family? It was as unbearable as putting Cinder at risk.

Cinder

The history of the Earthen treaty with the Lunars had plagued our predecessors, so why could we believe this Lunar Queen could be the one to sign it now? My eyes were on the reason why. She wanted to marry Kai and become the next empress. And right now, I didn’t want to consider the evil it would have crashing down on the people of this Commonwealth and on the world too.

Just a mere ‘visit’, from these people had come with countless measures of safety risks, Kai was being isolated from everyone he loved and trusted. And me? Well.. it looks to me as though I could become another reason for her holding out.

But before I could come clean about what I was to him, he was speaking to Peony about her family.

“Stars!” No way had I even thought about what would come next. Seeing the life draining out of someone so young, it made sense that I couldn’t imagine an ‘after’, however; now there was one. Peony would be okay if everything progressed on the trajectory set before us.

Clearing my throat to gain some illusion of togetherness. Only to look up at Kai in shock. He’d taken my hand again, and I felt myself easing into it. Without pulling away, letting the touch remain in place. Because… I didn’t know how much longer I could allow myself to feel all.

“Kai..” Trying to speak without saying anything my sister could really hear. He couldn’t possibly come to visit her every day. He had so much to do. So much rested on his shoulders.

‘Thank you, Prince Kai. I should like seeing you.’ Peony’s smile lit up my heart. So, I bit my lips and kept my thoughts to myself.

“Pee, how are you feeling now? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Do you need anything?” Still holding Kai’s hand as I asked.

‘Oh.. uhmm… I don’t know…’ her face scrunched up thinking it over. ‘Oh… BBQ pork belly, no.. bao buns!.. no… custard buns! No…’

I couldn’t help myself, laughing from the bottom of my heart at how quickly she began naming her favourite foods.

“Slow down… Pee… you’ve not been well for a while, so maybe let’s start off a little simpler? How about some soup? Let’s get your energy up? I can go down to the market square and bring you some of the egg drop and chicken soup you enjoy?” I hoped my offer would be sufficient enough.

‘But… crispy pork belly sounds so good to my tummy, Cinder.’ She pleads.

“I know… I know…” stopping myself from saying I didn’t have enough univs for that, not in front of Kai! But… wait, I did… #DoctorErland had set me up with my own account! All the univs I am making from being a test guinea pig were being deposited into it.

“Okay. I can do that.” I finally said. Then saying to Kai. “This has to be a good sign. She is getting her appetite back?”

Kaito

I couldn’t help but wonder what Cinder was thinking. There was part of me that wanted to ask her thoughts on so many aspects of the decisions that lay ahead. To ask her as a citizen… to ask her as my friend… to ask her as someone I could see myself ruling next to…

I swallowed hard… Cinder was special in many ways. And not just because she was beautiful… she was radical in her voice for change. And that was a rare thing in a generation that was born into peace. Not to mention her intelligence and problem-solving… two things that, in my experience, ruled out, compassion and empathy but, Cinder had this too.

I knew it would be hard. But with a potential cure that may or may not be rolled out to the people of the commonwealth… No one would question me personally overseeing the project and its first test subject. At least, not more than once.

#Peony’s food requests had me chuckling then. It was a good thing when someone wanted to eat after being so sick for so long, right? Then Cinder… her hand still in mine below the window. “How about I have the kitchen send up some soup and some pork belly and we can start with a little soup and see how your tummy feels?” I had my Port screen in my hand already, typing a one-handed message to #Nainsi who was probably still in the kitchen anyway. “I know it’s not the same as the market vendors… but the market isn’t open right now. And I promise you the cooks here are great. And when it is open… we can send a messenger for anything you want. If!” I added the last part before #Peony started to protest. “You promise to go slowly.”

‘Can I have custard buns?’ She pouted.

“As soon as the market opens. If you try a little soup first.” I smiled my most charming smile.

‘Okay… but I don’t like the idea of sending a messenger to get my food… it's mean.’

“You can’t think like that, #Peony,” I told her. “This palace has dozens of messengers working here. And that means dozens of families and homes get to put food on the table for themselves and their children. They have money to spend at the market and in stores all over the city that provide more jobs and more income. It’s a good job with good pay.”

‘I never really thought about that…okay… but only if they want to.’ She added the last part sternly.

I laughed and looked at Cinder. “Of course!” I agreed.

Then I nodded to Cinder’s question. “I believe so… she couldn’t even drink her own water an hour ago…. This… is just more progress.”

Cinder

I couldn’t help but notice the colour returning to her cheeks, the sores still looked to be painful, however, the medication the doctor had Peony on, took the edge off it for now.

“Any progress is a gift, and by the stars, I will welcome it with open arms.” Smiling at the conversation the two shared.

My glance moved back and forth from my younger stepsister to the prince who had become a friend. How the two spoke, the camaraderie between them. You would have been forgiven if you thought they had known one another for some time.

Peony listened to what Kaito had to say, she even gave in to his request. When I knew she would have fought hard to have her needs met. Or was that only so that she could make her mom’s life a little difficult? Right now, the most important part of this experience has to be. She was feeling better.

“The people who work here do it with great respect and love for the crown. I’ve seen it firsthand, how everyone here adores working for Kai and the Empire. From the guards all the way to the gardeners, and the kitchen staff, and even the tailors.” Okay fine, I added the last part so that he knew I had received his gift, uncertain where or when I would wear something so fragile and beautiful.

When I felt his gaze on me, unfortunately, I struggled to look up to meet Kai’s eyes. Warnings across my retina telling me to calm down. Lowering my voice so that Peony didn’t hear me this time.

“I really don’t want to overstep our welcome with your hospitality, Kai. I’m more than happy to provide what I can, to meet Pee’s needs. And once I can tell her mom, I am sure Adri will step up too. Of course, only once it is safe to let her know what has occurred here in the Palace Medical labs.”

Kaito

I knew it was probably questionable to use my court-trained charms to manipulate the child. But it was for a good reason… and I was hopeful she would feel well enough for her pork belly if she ate a soup first.

Optimism… Stars that was a dangerous thing.

I turned to watch Cinder as she spoke to her sister. She had been paying attention to the staff here… although I had taken her through the staff halls to the kitchen, so I supposed she was bound to take notice. There was little this woman missed.

I smiled when she mentioned the tailors… had Tam Jasmine told her how she came to be in the Palace?

I shook my head, flicking the switch to shut off the microphone in the room. The way she lowered her voice told me this wasn’t for her sister's young ears. “Cinder there is nothing the Empire can ever do to repay your sister for the contributions she has made today; towards helping us discover this cure… no matter what the doctor can do with the rest of this drug. We have already learned so much from this. Some food from the kitchens is the very least we can do. While she is in the Palace she is a ward of the Royal Family…” My breath caught… “Which… I suppose is just me now.”

I looked at Peony through the glass, she was brushing still-damp hair off her forehead. As soon as she was no longer contagious I would make sure she got a proper bath. “Especially while we can’t allow her mother and her other sister to come and see her until we know what to do with this news.” I took Cinder’s hand again and squeezed. I could feel the tension in her fingers even through the gloves she always wore. “I’m so glad that you were here because now you know and there's no reason to keep you from seeing her. She should have some family with her if she can’t have all of them.”

‘You should ask Cinder to the ball Prince Kai.’ #Peony’s voice was clear as a bell (the sound from her room was still active) and a quick look told me she was eyeing our clasped hands. I chuckled, did she know that I had, in fact, already tried my hardest to do just that? With the switch still off I turned to Cinder.

“You didn’t tell her.” I smiled. “Did you?”

Cinder

There were those warnings again. My heart… the human and the cyber threads all mixed with emotions, nerves, and fear at once. I was thankful he held my humanity in his hands. Because I knew the way he felt like my friend, would change. The moment my cyborg aspect came to light, Kai wouldn’t want anything to do with me. Or… would he? Could he see past the bias of our world? Would he know that I only lied to be his friend? And then the newest developments? Luna….

I shook my head free from the thought that word brought to light, things I wasn’t even ready to deal with myself.

“Thank you… I find myself indebted to you. You see this as #Peony’s sacrifice when in truth your agreement to allow her to have the antidote has given her life. Without you Kai… she… she…” My eyes burnt because I couldn’t finish that sentence.

Parting my lips, I squeezed his hand back but before I could say anything else. Peony’s voice chimed in over the speakers, making my jaw drop open with shock.

My gaze darted up to keep Kai’s and then when I realised this would mean looking him in his eyes I let my gaze drop. My jaw working without the ability to actually make words string together. So, I finally said.

“No… no I didn’t tell her.” Not saying, that there was no point. “She is madly in love with you, Kaito. She dreamt of coming to the age when she would be allowed to go to the ball.. with the hopes that you would notice her, dance and laugh with her. I… I couldn’t … break her heart.”

Not when I had no plan of attending. And now that Iko was gone. Peony was coming around. My plans to leave were slowly coming back to life.

Stars! His smile. The way I saw the glint of something unsaid as he spoke. His tired face, and dark eyes. The smile cut through it all.

Kaito

I shook my head. “No, Cinder. No not at all. You aren’t in my debt, not for this… not for anything.” I dropped my gaze. “I know that it's wrong in many ways... and I know so many others are suffering. But I am so, so thankful that Fate brought your sister here now… for this. I’m so happy that it's Peony getting better, that it's your sister who was granted this miracle. That you won’t…” I couldn’t finish that sentence the way I meant it. “That you might not have to say goodbye.”

I nodded as she explained it to me. I knew what she meant; I had been around fans and subjects that had fainted just because I smiled at them… being the only heir to a throne… affected people and denying that out of modesty had stopped working for me a long time ago. “I understand.” I smiled. “But…” I glanced at her sister through the window, still looking at our twined hands. “I think she might be a little too distracted to dwell on that part.” I chuckled. But, nevertheless, I would respect her wishes. I flicked the button back into place so Peony could hear us. “I don’t want to make you any promises, Little Flower. But maybe… if you can follow all the doctor’s advice… You might yet attend the ball.” I beamed at her and her face lit up. “Don’t get too excited, but it's something to think about… when they want you to eat up or get some rest, isn’t it?” She nodded.

“But what I can promise you… if you aren’t well enough for the Ball… or are still in quarantine. I will make sure you and I have a dance when you can leave this room.”

‘If…’ She pouted after a momentary look of elation. ‘You mean if I get out of quarantine.’

This child was too young to have seen and endured as much as she has. I nodded. Sticking to my promise to not lie to her. “Yes… I suppose I do mean if.” I touched the glass. “But… I have faith. It isn’t always enough but all the faith I have… is for you to get well.”

Cinder

“We will have to agree to disagree, and move forward with our best intentions.” Kai and I would see this action of his, in our own ways. For him, it would be Peony’s sacrifice. And in my eyes, it would be a blessing and a privilege to have this gift bestowed on us. My body remains in place as I watch the interaction between the two of them, the nickname ‘Little Flower’, suiting Peony to a point. Not only because she was named after a beautiful flower, but her heart too was as beautiful as one.

The sounds of company coming made me let go of Kai’s hand before they were at the door. I knew Kai wouldn’t have heard them coming, but I had. I also took a few steps back away from him, following the protocols we had grown up learning. It all fell into place like taking a breath.

When the doors opened. Two servings staff stood there. Their heads dropped seeing their Prince, before greeting him. They were followed by a droid carrying trays of covered plates. At the same time, my head turned to see Peony’s med droid had vacated her room, only to return with a tray of covered plates too.

The servers on our side, stepped into the room, to begin setting up the dishes on the small table beside the back wall. They didn’t speak as they worked in perfect harmony with one another. And I found myself staring. They worked as if they were dancing. Each knew their part, and never disputing the other as they reached out for dishes, or cutlery, or napkins.

When they were done, they both turned to bow their heads to Kai. Glancing up finally. The taller of the two asked. ‘Is there anything more we can do, your Royal Highness?’ And waited for a reply.

‘This smells so good.’ My eyes shifted straight away to the glass and Peony on the other side. She had been helped to sit up again. With a soup spoon in her shaking hand. Her eyes were on the bowl as the droid placed a napkin around her to help catch any spillages.

“Please take it nice a slow Pee. Try a spoonful first. Listen to your body, okay?” I told her.

‘Okay. I will.’ However, the glimmer of hunger in her eyes told me… she would not take it slow unless I watched her.

Kaito

“Okay… we can meet halfway on this… but please don’t view anything we do here for Peony as charity. I only wish we could treat all quarantined patients half as well.” I said, turning my attention to the sweet child again, who was making her doll dance now as she hummed something about yummy, yummy pork in my tummy. I was laughing as Cinder vanished from my hold… Stars Above! The loss of contact with the rough fabric of her gloves made my heart sink. But then the doors opened… Wow. She must have excellent hearing. I gave the staff a polite nod and allowed them to do their work with quiet thanks. They were staff members I recognised but didn’t know well enough to be on a first-name basis. I wasn’t in the habit of calling down to the kitchen when Mama Zhao wasn’t working.

The way that Cinder stood on protocol was drawing into the forefront of my mind that there were so many I was breaking by being here. Add to that the way the elder of the two was glancing around the room, mostly in Cinder’s direction.

When he asked if there was anything else I knew he was waiting to see if I would request a chaperone be sent in. I just dipped my chin respectfully, not bowing… and answered. “No thank you. The three of us have everything we need.” I glanced at the wall of glass behind me. “Please send my thanks to the kitchen staff tonight also. My droid will clear away the dishes.”

When they left I smiled at Cinder as she smelled the food. “It won’t be Mama Zhao’s but the kitchen staff were all trained by her so I know it will be good.” I pulled the chairs by the wall closer together so the three of us could feel as though we were sharing a meal in the same room.

Maybe someday we truly would.

I picked up a bowl of soup and held it out to Cinder. “Shall we?” I smiled and motioned to the chairs. It seemed only fair to start with the soup since I had sort of tricked Peony into trying that first. Then I lifted my own bowl and went to have a seat.

Cinder

The scent of the delicious food had my mouth watering; however, I remained in my place until the sound of the door closing and their two sets of footsteps moving away came to light. I knew the danger of tongues wagging would put Kai in an incomprehensible position, and after everything that had occurred since the arrival of the Luna Queen. I did not want to be a reason for him to worry.

“Thank you.” Finally taking a seat only once he had taken his, I waited for him to take the first spoonful before picking up mine to try.

“I am more than glad for a hot meal for my sister. You and your team here at the palace have these two Lihn’s indebted.” I couldn’t see the rising waves of steam coming from the bowl I’d lifted up higher. The last thing I needed now was to spill food over myself. Even if this wasn’t the first meal the Prince and I had shared together.

But this didn’t mean I could control Peony who always ate her food with such good manners, however right now the sounds of slurping came from her direction.

‘So good… this soup is so good. Uhmm…’ her eyes were on her bowl, moving something to the side. It made me smile because I knew it would be the ginger root.

“Remember, please take it slowly.” Reminding her I the hopes for her to keep the food down after all this time. Even if I found myself laughing softly at her little sing-song.

“Peony isn’t wrong, this is definitely delicious,” I said to Kai. “Even if I know Peony‘s soup is different from the one we are eating.” Hers would be lighter in the spice, herbs etc. Something she could easily digest.

I dared to look up towards Kai as I took another spoonful of the hot liquid filled with goodness.

“How is she? I mean Mama Zhao… has there been any news from Hiro?” Her son and Kai’s best friend had to be sent away from New Beijing due to the Lunar delegation.

Kaito

I watched her as she came to sit with me, even after the staff had left. I hated that she was standing on ceremony again… it had taken so long to get her to stop and treat me like a friend… even if the whole time there were moments in the middle of conversations when she would get so caught up in the flow of everything and treat me like she would treat anyone else. But this was something that I hated even more… and I wasn’t sure I should try to stop her from doing it anymore.

No one would believe I was courting a woman who waited for me to sit and not for me to seat her… right? Wouldn’t it be safer for her? But here… now? “I know the protocols around here are…. Well… intense, but you really don’t need to stick to them when we are alone.” I smiled. “Unless you need me to call them back and have a chaperone sent up.” I was teasing now. “Personally, I think you are far too skilled at resisting my charms, but if you feel like you can’t…” I lifted a spoonful of the soup and tasted it, it was simple but still tasty, they had taken into consideration that it was being fed to a poorly patient when they seasoned the dish. The hints of white pepper and the thin sliver of green onion were there, but subtle. I remember Mama Zhao insisting that ginger was perfect for settling an unwell stomach. It wasn’t the usual deep rich food I was used to, or the simple yet powerful flavours of the market venders.

But I noticed that Peony was shoving her’s aside. Okay, sure I didn’t notice it until I followed Cinder’s gaze to her sister. “Yes, there is no need to rush. The kitchen here is always open, we have staff who work around the clock in the different wings so we make sure they always have access to a good meal. All you need to do is ask one of the droids to contact the kitchen and tell them what you would like.” Then I added quickly. “But they are med droids so they will prioritize your health. So if you ask for fifteen scoops of ice cream you may be disappointed.” I teased the girl now.

I turned back to Cinder. “Well… if this one goes down well we can always send out for her true favourite soon. But the market vendors make very rich food. I think simple is best for her first meal.”

Then I pondered about Hiro’s mother. “She is… lonely I think. And I don’t believe any amount of visits could prevent it. She misses her son, and I fear I am a poor substitute. But I have asked her not to tell me about her communications with him. Or anyone else that may have contact with the Lunars… They have…” I cleared my throat. “Ways of prying truths from people. I won’t become a risk to him again. But he is safe. I sent him with a…” I smirk remembering the incredibly human escort droid I had forgotten to request the companion programming to be removed from. But he… Because he was exceptionally life-like… down to his voice, freckles… the imitation heartbeat… was fully equipped with personal assistance and basic defense programming too. “Um… let’s call him an enthusiastic friend.” I flicked my eyes to Peony. It wasn’t a story fit for a child… and when I did tell her I was planning on leaving out the part where the imperfectly beautiful android hit on me.

Cinder

My spoon froze midair, my dark eyes moved across the table to the boy only a few years older than me. How had he been able to point out the wall I had re-erected between us? Was there a way for me to say ‘This is how I am trying to protect you. How I am trying to defend my heart from breaking. Because how unfortunate am I?… to fall in love with a boy who was born for such greatness.’

There were no words to describe how much I adore him. Not for his crown or the fact that he was beloved by millions of people. But for the fact that the boy I met in a dark hoodie in the market square thought he could hide his identity from me. Then proceeded to be kind, and warm-hearted to everyone who crossed paths with him.

“I… uhmm…” Aware of the spoon I set it back into the bowl, my eyes still remained on him eating. “I’m sure I can protect my virtue.”

Hearing a scoffing sound from the other side of the glass. Thanking the Stars for Peony.

“Let’s not give my young sister any ideas about the service staff and all they could spoil her with.” Whispering it loud enough for Peony to hear my words, and see her frowning at me.

‘Cinder…” she groaned ‘Why are you no fun?’ She huffed too, still eating her dinner.

“Because I love you.” Replying with a laugh. Turning to Kai. “I don’t think we need to call for any more food. You were correct in saying the palace kitchens could accommodate her needs.” Kicking myself.

“I never really learnt to cook. I mean… I’m sure if I try I could make something… but this didn’t seem to be the time to experiment. Which is why I could only think of where I could buy her what she wanted.”

Once again I picked up my spoon slowly sipping on the soup, reminding myself to eat slowly and calmly. My gaze moved to my sister even though Kai had my full attention. I listened to him carefully. Nodding my head a few times when I glanced back at him talking about his best friend and mother figure.

My heart went out to them all. This situation was so sad for so many different reasons. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something I could do to help her. If she had a way to connect with Hiro, could I do something to make it safer for them?

Setting that thought to process later, my eyebrows shot up at the new information.

“Oh, I see. You sent him away with company.” I knew nothing good came from the way Kai sat smirking. And I wasn’t blind to what kind of droids were available. I fixed many of them myself for rich merchants.

“Interesting… enthusiastic friend… I’m sure Hiro will be thankful for the foresight.” He wasn’t saying the true name, so nor would I.

I just smiled, placing the spoon into my mouth.

Kaito

I grinned when she said she could protect her own virtue. “I have no doubts,” I said quietly. “And what about mine?” We both knew mine was long gone… not that I was a playboy or anything, but the girl who was my first had gone to the press about our relationship when she hit money troubles a few years ago. Even though she had moved away from New Beijing and thus ended the relationship a year before selling her story. It was well known and the fact that I had refused to deny it or comment on her claims at all was all the confirmation people needed. Just because she had violated my privacy didn’t mean I had to violate hers. Nor did I hold a grudge, nothing she said was untrue… she wasn’t even mean or spiteful… she told our story. It was kind of a sweet story… at least in the original interview. But the netfeeds twisted everything in time.

“I think you could protect that too…” I smiled. There was no version of the future where I could see Cinder betraying my confidence like that, and she had repaired Nainsi… heard her message. She had been with me when I spoke with the Lunar girl Cress… she knew about the Queen's potential cure. Her information was a million times more valuable than how the Prince lost his virginity. It's not like I was expected to wait for marriage, after all… not in this Era. The things she knew should terrify me, should have had me calling security and having her sign NDAs that would make her afraid to even speak my name in public… and if it was anyone but her… I would be. But Cinder… I had no fears, no doubts. She would come to my defence far faster than betray me.

The sisters were laughing as Cinder teased Peony and I snapped out of my thoughts; I had been staring like a five-year-old that had just discovered a real live unicorn.

Because a person like Cinder, that was about as rare a sight indeed.

“I can cook a little,” I said. “I picked up a few things when Mother tried to learn. But mostly basic staples. I can be a little heavy-handed with spices sometimes, so I learned to compensate by making it all bland.” I laughed. “I can’t even remember the last time I cooked though.” I pushed the last few spoonfuls of soup around in my bowl.

“Hiro isn’t good at being alone.” I clarified. “I think it’s a downside of growing up here, there are always people. Twenty-four hours a day… even if you don’t know them all, they are here, and you can be alone but right next to someone… it sort of… feels… safe I guess.” Then I shrugged and set the soup aside, checking to see how dear Lady Peony was doing with hers. “But I suppose everyone has a different idea of safety really… for some, it might even be being alone.”

I nodded knowingly at Cinder, an ‘I’ll tell you later’, kind of look. “So yes… company. Plus, I love the man like a brother, but he cannot take care of himself… or keep himself out of trouble.” I chuckled. “He tried to keep me out of trouble… but without me to worry about….” I feigned a visible shudder that made Peony laugh. “Who knows what he would get up to!"

Cinder

Coughing I set my bowl down with the spoon in it. My hand wrapped around the glass of water taking a swig to clear my throat.

Was Kaito flirting with me? No… not possible. Or was it? I mean he did ask me to the ball a few times. Even if it was just so he could prevent all the mothers and their daughters from busying his evening with requests he didn’t care to entertain.

Raising my eyes, with a straightened back. (Fine the coughing/choking fit didn’t help my street cred any.) “You, young Prince. Have a deluge of palace guards to help with yours… As well as have some faith that I wouldn’t dishonour the reputation of my friend.” But he has said as much.

I didn’t really care for rumours or gossip. That was Pearl’s and Adri’s forte. So, I sat there looking at him across from me. Even if he was a little dishevelled, Kai still looked the part of our next leader, the next Emperor.

Both Peony and I laughed with Kai at his story about learning to cook. ‘Cinder could burn water if you gave her the time.’ She was giggling. It made my heart jump (figuratively) he was the reason for this change in my sister. I could never repay him.

Just as I set my empty bowl down, she continued with an offhand comment. ‘When Cinder, Iko and I move. You can come cook for us Prince Kaito.’ She giggled as her tray was taken away. Leaving her to rest. She then quickly said. ‘So, your friend is your Cinder? She keeps me from getting into trouble so much. Even takes the blame sometimes when I break things.’

I rolled my eyes trying to shrug it off. “It’s what we do.” It wasn’t easy. Shaking my head I had to smile. “Oh. I’m sure he will find something to do.” Banking Kai’s expression for later.

Kaito

I smiled. There it was!!! She wasn’t completely immune to my charms. I laughed watching her straighten. “So… us Princely types can’t protect our own?” I asked her, teasing and flushing a little because I knew the answer… There was no way I could protect myself from the people who wanted to get close to me… even if their motivations were innocent, without my security I wouldn’t make it through the day. Especially not with the Lunar Delegation here.

I had a few ideas on how to avoid this dishonour she talked about… but I wasn’t as brave as my father… vowing to win a lady's hand in marriage so early. I was afraid it would send Cinder running. As a child raised in court… that kind of talk was something my mother would have been used to… even if she was still free to marry for love. Which… she did in the end.

I chuckled at Peony. “Oh, it's possible! I have seen it happen… Mother cost Mama Zhao one of her favourite pots once.” I smiled at her, maybe I was being hopeful but I was sure that there was a flush of colour in her cheeks. Not the shiny red of fever… I glanced at the monitor and indeed, her temperature was barely elevated. This wasn’t the first time that I heard about this plan for her to leave… and it gave me a swooping sensation in my belly. But if this cure proved true… the Commonwealth would become a dangerous place in the next few years. Levana wouldn’t kill me too quickly… she was in this for the long haul. She might even keep me around for a decade… or until she had an heir…

I suppressed a shudder. What under the stars was I going to do!? I couldn’t do this! I couldn’t not do this.

I forced my focus back to the present moment. I wanted to tell Peony that breaking things wasn't bad unless you did it on purpose… we all had accidents. But I didn’t know enough about Cinder’s stepmother to know how she might react to a child breaking something. Perhaps she had a reason to be afraid to take the blame. “Yes, Hiro was sort of like my Cinder then…” I leaned close to the window and whisper-hissed. “But he wasn't nearly as pretty… But don’t tell Hiro I said that!”

Peony giggled, her shoulders shaking and her head tipping back… I wouldn’t say full of energy… but certainly, the most energetic I had ever seen her. ‘Cinder can be your Hiro sometimes. She knows how to make everything better… and not just fix broken stuff. But only sometimes.’ She started to eye the pork belly on her tray.

I smiled at Cinder and turned back to her darling little sister. “You would share your big sister with me sometimes?” I asked knowing that was what she meant by sometimes… not wanting her sister's time taken up by another. “That’s very generous LadyPeony, I promise to only steal her when I absolutely must.” I chuckled.

Cinder

Stars save me!

Sitting back, my eyes flicking back and forth. Kai to Peony, and then Kai again. A small smile cresting my lips. Seeing the way the two of them bantered in a way only my sisters and I used to.

A small song of fear and sadness hit me. Because she wasn’t here. Iko would have swooned over Kai. Over the way, he teased Peony and she teased right back.

Really Hiro was Kai’s Iko. Only he was a real boy, who wasn’t broken to sell for parts! I missed her, and Pee didn’t even know she was gone. But now wasn’t the time to share the dreadful news.

So, I let myself listen to their conversation. Taking in the calm of this night. Because most of my nights had been filled with fear, sadness, and anxiety.

“Do I have a say in how I am shared?” Finally asking both of them with a brow lifted. “What if I don’t want to be shared out?” Witnessing the way Peony eyed the pork belly.

“Go ahead. However, small bites. See how you feel after the first one before taking more.”

Kaito

I tried not to pay much attention to Peony’s mentions of Iko. I knew she was lost for now… But I couldn’t lie and say that I wasn’t tempted to find a way to help Cinder find her a suitable body. But I knew that this was a point of pride to her. Interfering seemed like overstepping. Cinder knew best on how to break the news to Peony… she had just found out she couldn’t see her mother and other sister while this drug was still classified. She didn’t need more bad news.

When Cinder asked if she had a choice about being shared between her little sister and me, we answered in unison.

“Of course!” I laughed and right alongside that, Peony shook her head and said:

‘Nope!’ and popped her lips on the P sound. It drew my attention to how dry her lips were.

“Don’t forget your water, My Lady… The doctor said you need to stay hydrated.” I reminded her quietly.

She took a sip before her first bit of the pork and I eyed the platter between Cinder and I. I knew it was only fair to take it slow too and not make poor Peony watch us devour the food while she had to nibble. I took up a piece with my chopstick and dunked it into the sweet chilli sauce. Peony hummed in pleasure. ‘it’s not like the market vendor but it's still good!’ She beamed and chewed.

I took a bite and grinned. “Oh wow… this is good… why haven’t I ever eaten this before?” I almost went back for a second bite but I remember to go slow… for Peony.

Cinder

Seeing these two just made me roll my eyes, with an ever-present smile. The way they both seemed to have come together in such a short amount of time and when Peony truly was in need of a friend. And to the fact, that she had grown up daydreaming about meeting Prince Kaito. Only now she saw a side of him most of the world wouldn’t. Just as I had from the first moment he had shown up to my market stall.

“Why does it feel as though the both of you are ganging up on me? Also.. if it is true. Which we know it is… I’m not sure how I feel about it.” I was of course joking. Seeing my sister this way was delightful.

The door behind Peony’s bed opened with a med droid entering. I tried not to pay too much attention, as it moved around working.

I turned my attention to the platter of food between Kai and myself. Raising my hand to collect my pair of chopsticks.

A thought coming back to life. Seeing Hiro and Iko around this table too. With Peony healthy, and no one trying to harm Kai.

“Stars above, make it so.” Whispering the words to myself. Until I also remembered… I wasn’t planning to be here once I knew Kai was safe.

“Okay. Let me try this delicious pork.”

Following Kai’s example, dipping it into the sauce before taking a bite. My eyes closed from the delight of flavours, letting a soft hum play in the air as I chewed slowly. Enjoying each and every chew to its fullest.

“Not like the market at all.” I agreed with my sister. “It’s so much better.”

Just the cut of the meat itself. Then the time and effort spent in cooking it. It was mind-blowing.

“Spoilt for life.”

Kaito

I winked at Peony when Cinder teased about us ganging up on her and we laughed together a little conspiratorially. “We would neeeeever do something like that… would we Lady Peony?” I said, my voice completely overacted.

‘Nope!! Not me! Court ladies would never do such a thing.’ It seemed like Peony was trying to speak in a British accent.

I laughed. “You have clearly had too many net dramas playing when you don’t have company. I’m going to tell the droid to play nothing but documentaries from now on.” I teased her.

‘I would just sweet talk them.’ She grinned and Stars Above! Seeing her smile…. Today of all days. I knew it was selfish to think of myself right now… but I needed this. I needed hope. I needed to move forward knowing that the pure, untainted joy of this little girl would live on in the world no matter what happened to me. I stopped the train of thought… nothing was guaranteed.

I heard Cinder’s whisper and wondered if she was thinking something similar… this was her sister… her family and from the little I knew; Peony was the only one that treated Cinder like family. Her other sister had seemed rather… well - I hated to make snap judgements – nasty when I met her briefly at the market.

I smiled… it gave me a lot of satisfaction knowing this was something I was able to do for them… sharing a meal with those unique souls. “Well, once the kitchen staff found out I was eating all this they will have me eating salads for a week.” I teased. I dunked another piece of pork into the sauce and popped it into my mouth. I glanced up at Peony’s monitors again… I couldn’t help it… I needed to know if this was going to work.

Cinder

“Prolonging a word's end doesn’t mean it is true, Kai! And Pee… stop taking his side!” Stars have mercy on me. I didn’t see this much happening coming in my direction days ago. I had hoped of course, but to feel it. It was ground breaking. Turning myself to face Peony fully when I continued.

“And we are talking about your screen time once you are all better. That’s a poor attempt of a British accent.”

Her love for net dramas, only came second to her love for the boy sat opposite to me.

“For once, Kai and I agree on something!”

However, she knew it. And I knew it too. She so would sweet talk her way around what she wanted. The girl had a talented personality when it mattered the most. She giggled…GIGGLED! My sister was giggling again!

‘I’m fine with them giving you salads, however, does that mean I can have your portion of the good stuff? I mean if you aren’t going to eat it. Someone should.’

I could see her eyes burning a hole into the pork on her plate. “Go ahead, Pee. Have another small bite if your stomach feels up to it.”

Telling her to go ahead as the food would give her some extra energy.

As soon as the droid had the new data it left the room. The data is already in my processor. “She is getting better… the data... it’s showing progress.”

Quickly pointing to the monitoring system. Because how else could I explain knowing it to Kai?

Kaito

I laughed… this pork was well worth the week of rabbit food I would surely face in the name of ‘nutrition’… but I knew it was mostly about my image. Even if there were vain motivations behind it… it was hard to argue with people who wanted to give you food that would keep you healthy and make you live longer.

“I am afraid I need to agree with your big sister on this occasion, Peony…” I chuckled. “The accent needs rather a lot of work. However, practice makes perfect.” I said the last part in my best imitation of Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom.

Cinder was smiling and full of hope, and Peony was giggling. For a moment I let myself pretend that all was well in the world. I imagined that; sure Peony was sick… but not with an incurable, always fatal disease and she was well on the road to recovery. Soon I could give her a real dancing lesson… I could win her sister's heart and have the life that my parents were robbed of too soon. Peony could be as close to a real Princess as she could get… the sister of an Empress. My eyes met Cinder’s and she whispered to me…

Then the moment was gone.

But the world I crashed back into was far less dark than the one I had been living in only hours ago… there was still hope… real hope of ending this awful disease and saving the precious life separated from us by the glass.

“She is…” And I didn’t just mean the vitals on the screen. “She’s…. joyful… well she always was… or at least always tried to be… but she’s energetically joyful!” I smiled. “It must be almost time for the Doctor to check in right? Didn’t he say every four hours?” I looked at my wrist but I wasn’t wearing a watch because I had dinner with the Queen…. No shiny surfaces. “How long has it been?”

Cinder

‘One must practice, one’s skills.’ Peony nodded her head slowly, she smiled and continued her little game with Kai. Who of course had no idea how much this meant to her.

I smiled reading the data at the same time as rolling my eyes at the two of them. “Please! Stop. You both are just embarrassing.” They really weren’t.

I ate some more pork, this time with some rice, and a dumpling too. I loved the fact that it was easy for me to multi-task. Keeping myself in the conversation with them, filling my empty stomach, and keeping an eye on my sister’s progress.

Until my gaze went to Kai, tilting my head to the side at the way he looked so lost in his thoughts.

My heart gave out on me, and an amber warning flashed before my retinas, which I pushed out of sight. He must be thinking about his father, I thought to myself. Seeing Peony this way, only days after saying goodbye to his last living parent couldn’t be easy. And here I was…

Stars! How could I be so heartless? Here I sat showing enthusiasm as Peony’s health gained strength minute by minute. And he… this treatment could have saved his father. Our emperor only if it had been shared by the Luna Queen days before!

Why hadn’t she sent it ahead of her arrival? Why did it make me feel even stronger about Kai and my conclusions? That the Lunars must have had a hand in all the misfortunes our Commonwealth was suffering? And yet… that selfish voice whispered. ‘At least she shared it in time to save Pee.’

“Uhm?” His voice pulled me free of the spiralling thoughts, and I took in a deep breath. “Oh, yes.”

I could see the time on my display. “He should be returning soon.” Pointing to the glass where Pee sat sipping on her water.

“Maybe that’s why the droid came in? Gather the information so he has the data to respond to?”

Kaito

I chuckled at Cinder, her smile telling me that she was enjoying this despite her protests. I knew I was letting myself get too comfortable here… like it was a place I belonged. I knew my heart would break when the inevitable end came. But right now, it was worth it… to have these memories to hold onto.

I turned to Cinder remembering the droid that had come into the room… my eyes moved to the door that it had vanished behind like I could summon it back. Then remembered that the room in the back was always manned by a person or a droid. I pressed the button next to the one that operated the audio between us and Peony.

“Med droid, can you please let us know when Dr Erlund returns?” I asked.

‘Dr Erlund is currently en route, his estimated arrival time is seven minutes, Your Highness.’ The speaker crackled a little.

“Thank you.” I released it and turned back to Cinder. “Well… I guess it’s almost time to go.” I ate some more pork and savoured it. If the doctor gave us the news that I was hoping for… this could be my last meal for a while. I would have to speak with Konn Torin and assemble the cabinet to discuss the next steps… and possibly sell my soul.

Cinder

As soon as the estimated arrival time for the doctor had been spoken, I felt as though a sombre invisible sheet had been pulled over the joyful time we’d shared this evening.

Seeing Peony and Kai so joyful, laughing, teasing, and eating gave me a glimpse into a life we couldn’t have had. If I weren’t who and what I am if Kai wasn’t a prince about to be crowned the emperor. If… if… if…

“I guess you are correct,” I replied, glancing at the patient who was unaware of how her health could change the course of this boy's life and world.

No matter the circumstances in what tomorrow, I knew I owed Kai my life, and I didn’t know how I could repay him. But I would keep helping him for as long as I could. No matter the outcome of what we would learn from the doctor.

“You should try to eat some more.” He had more of the pork, but I wasn’t sure he would eat when he wasn’t here. He has so much riding on data. “And… no matter what… you have Peony and me in your corner. Always.” Whispering it for him to hear alone. I didn’t need to give my little sister the details. There is no way she wouldn’t want to help if she could. When she was hundred percent better of course.

Kaito

“Thank you, Cinder,” I said. “I appreciate that.” But, would I have them in my corner? I knew they would always support me and my policies… believe in me. But eventually? I might not be able to keep them in my life at all. For their own safety…

I didn’t want to think about it. Not in the last few moments I had with them. And as much as I dreaded what came next; I couldn’t wait for it either. The possibility of hearing that this little girl was cured? That there was hope for wiping out this awful disease, not just in the Commonwealth… but the entire Earthen Union.

I took another bite this time of the cucumbers and radish served with the pork. It was lightly dressed with dill and lemon… and something I couldn’t identify, something infused in the oil drizzled on top, maybe? I was focusing on the wrong thing… I was focusing on anything that kept me in this room with these two incredible people.

I ate more. “So should you. We will have no idea what the rest of the evening might bring!” I smiled at her and glanced pointedly at the monitor again… her temperature was normal… her heart rate was still high but she was very excited about her food. And… not to brag or anything, but… well… me. So that made sense, right?

The speakers clicked and a monotone voice came through. ‘Your Imperial Highness. Dr. Erlund has arrived in the control room.’

I cleaned my hands on an embossed cloth napkin and took a final long draft from my glass of water. “Peony… We’re going to go speak to the doctor now? Keep taking little bites and lots of water, okay?” Then I turned to Cinder. “Are you ready?” I stood and offered her my hand.

Cinder

I wiped my mouth with the fabric napkins as I’d seen women on the net dramas do. Peony and Iko had been obsessed with the way those women upheld themselves, following the traditional etiquettes of the past as though it were something expected of us. Well… me anyway.

Adri of course went to great lengths to ensure her two daughters Pearl and Peony gained all the ‘proper’ training to live a greater life in society. However, me? I ate my steamed buns with my fingers and slurped my noodles with my soup bowl held up to my mouth. I didn’t have time for adequacy, let alone meeting the requirements of society. And I knew I would never be presented to those people. So why bother?

And still. I knew by teaching myself, that I had to follow the norms of respect, to become someone people would want to work with. So, I learnt how to move in this world, without any guidance from elders. I learnt by watching, reading, and being told off by my little sisters. One human. One android. And I’d failed them both.

“No… Yes… Maybe….” I knew so much power and strength as well as uncertainty, would be held in what we would be told by Doctor Erland, that I couldn’t help but feel anxious when Kai asked me if I was ready.

“How can anyone be ready for what the outcome of this information could be?” Genuinely asking him as I stood up setting the fabric napkin on the table.

Peony told Kai she would take things slow with her food. And I knew that she would try, not sure she would succeed.

Once more I felt the kindness this boy shared to be an integral part of who he was. The son of his parents sure, but he was also a beloved son of his people. And it showed.

“I won’t be long okay?” I told her, not making any promises for Kai’s return. I knew he had the weight of the Commonwealth on his shoulders, and what it would have taken for him to have spent so much time here as it was.

Nodding my head towards Kai, I crossed the small room to push through the door. It would take us back to the labs, and the room where we could meet with the doctor. But I came to an abrupt stop, finding the all-beautiful, long hair pulled back into a slick ponytail, with bronzed-skinned, scientist Fateen stood there too.

Her eyes moved over my head, and she bowed her head towards Kai. Then smiling at me.

Fateen had been vocal when I first met this team of scientists. She had checked on me, asking me if I was okay, and making sure I was taken care of. Even when Doctor Erland had tried to keep her away from me.

“Hello again, Fateen-Jie.” I greeted her.

‘Lhin- mei, I see you are feeling better.’ She asked looking down now at her tablet. I saw that light bulb moment. The one where something clicked into place for her. ‘Peony is your sister?’ She questioned.

“Adopted.” I clarified. “I was adopted”

She parted her lips to speak, but the shorter old man ringed his hat and placed it over his head. ‘Yes, yes, let’s not hash out history and look towards the future.’ He dismissed his junior to leave us to talk.

Once she was gone I narrowed my eyes at the doctor. “I’d be careful how you treat your team; she knows how to kill you in ten ways without even breaking a sweat.” He waved his hand in the air dismissing my comment. “Don’t say no one warned you.”

‘So, are you both ready to hear the outcome of the tests?’ Reminding me, we weren’t alone. Stars! Kai had heard me speaking to the doctor openly and honestly. Someone kill me.

“Yes. Please. Before I’m old and grey!” Damn it! There I went again! “Uhm. I mean. Yes.” This man always brought the worst out of me.

‘Yes. Yes.’ He turned his attention to his tablet, bringing up something and then displayed it on the screen on the wall. ‘This is Peony’s blood tests before and now. Can you see what is missing?’

Of course, I could see it. Right away I saw the difference. My lips curled up into a smile. My heart. My soul. Stars! I couldn’t believe my eyes. But… then… I came crashing down from the euphoria.

Turning my gaze to Kai. Because I knew… my gut turned at the realisation of what this meant for him.

Kaito

I committed those last few moments to my memory, the white cloth against her perfectly kissable lips, even that look in her eyes… the fear, the hope, the sorrow and the joy that wanted to break free. Because of all of that… everything she felt right now came from Cinder’s deep, unending ability to love unconditionally. Her best friend was an android! Wasn’t that proof of her goodness? These things that we are told cannot be hurt, offended or harmed by human unkindness still receive nothing but kindness from her.

I nodded, taking her hand when she struggled to find her words. “You’re right. But I will be right here with you… we can do this…” I said as we entered the short, narrow walkway between the visitor's room and the… whatever they called the one the doctors worked in. “If Peony can take an unknown, untested drug… we can manage this.”

The beautiful female doctor was there. I had released Cinder's hand as we stepped into the room from the harshly lit corridor. I dipped my chin respectfully when she lowered her head. For a moment I was confused by the words the women exchanged… but then I remembered… Fateen had likely heard about or maybe even helped to treat Cinder’s fainting spell after Dr Erlund's treatment.

The doctor's eccentricities had always bordered on rude… but tonight he seemed anxious to deliver his findings. I was sure this was both good and bad news. I nodded to Fateen as she left… scowling, not at being dismissed, I don’t believe… but perhaps at how she had been dismissed. And Cinder… well there it was again… that spirit to always speak her mind coming out swinging… it was not appropriate at all, but it made me smirk.

“Yes.” I agreed with Cinder… “Please doctor… tell us what you have found.”

There was a notable difference in the two samples… but of course, I could not tell one cell from another. Okay, that wasn’t true. I could identify a red blood cell from what I remembered from my human biology lessons. “I’m just assuming the difference is no letomosis pathogens? But it would be really good to actually hear that from you, Doctor.”

‘It appears that our young patient no longer has any viral infections whatsoever… her current condition is simply the damage the illness has caused to her body.’ He explained. ‘But there’s no reason to believe that she won’t make a full recovery. There may be a little scarring from the lesions… no one has ever healed from them before so it’s unclear. But scars can be fixed should she wish it.’

I was awe-struck… “Wait, are you saying she’s no longer contagious?”

‘That is exactly what I am saying, Your Highness.’ He actually smiled. ‘However, the room… Peony had been in there while infected… coughing… exhaling airborne pathogens. So, she will be moved to a completely sanitised room for a day. The virus cannot survive on surfaces that long and after that I see no reason to keep her isolated. There is the question of her immunity to the virus going forward though, that will require future study.’

I looked at Cinder… all I could think about right now was that this child was going to live. She was going to survive, go to balls, grow up… fall in love… spend her life with someone that made her deliriously happy. I hugged Cinder.

Out of nowhere, I wrapped my arms around her and I held on tight. “She’s okay!” I gasped softly. “She’s going to be okay!”

The doctor cleared his throat. ‘Yes, yes… it’s a miracle… but this drug… a miracle cure. It contains properties that I’m not sure we can recreate here. Perhaps a resource or proprietary technique that only exists on Luna. But I have made that the highest priority for the research team.’

I had released Cinder while he spoke. “Anything you need, Dr Erlund… staff, teams, technology… equipment. Say the word, if there's an expert out there you think can help you, tell me and I will find a way to get them here. Nothing is more important than this cure.”

Cinder

The sound of the doors closing told me we were alone once again. However, I was finding it difficult to draw my gaze from the girl on the monitor. My sister, healing, playful, humming, her personality coming back to life for everyone to see.

But then the thoughts of what could come next weren’t far. How could they be? I knew that this was good. Not just for Peony, but for all those who we had lost. All those who were unwell. And… I stopped from thinking the next thought. Because I had to take things one step further. If I said it out loud, and Kai didn’t understand me. How much more could he take? And how much more could I ask for?

“She is more than okay Kai, and don’t for one second think that I don’t know what this means. For our family, or yours, for all the others out there suffering.” I could tell from the sound of his voice that he was holding back. And it wasn’t just because of the green text displaying his heartbeat, and the change in his voice, and posture.

Twisting myself and my attention away from the screen, I turned to face him once again. Seeing for myself all the conflict he must be fighting internally. “What does this mean now?” My hand was still in his, and I didn’t pull it away. Something tells me that we both needed this connection to stay grounded.

“Stars Kai… If the doctor is right, if what we are seeing is correct. Then… Then… Does this mean The Lunar Queen has won this sick game she is playing? Are we going to keep the earthen people uninformed of this change? Will the cyborg testing come to a stop?”

Okay… I couldn’t keep it in. It was said and out there. Cyborgs were dying, through no fault of their own. They didn’t hold the secrets towards a treatment. It was the Lunar’s who had that.

“What about you? What about what she asked of you Kai?” I had to know. Would he give in to her demands? I wasn’t foolish enough to think I could be a part of Kaito’s future. But I didn’t want her to be either. “I don’t want you to give her what she wants. This isn’t on your shoulders alone Kai… There are others in the world who can give her what she wants? There must be.”

Cress’s warning came tumbling back to the forefront of my thoughts now. “Cress told us what she has been doing. We need to tell the other nations about it. Come clean. You cannot fight this alone anymore.” I shut down the warning on my display, I didn’t need them telling me that I was losing my mind.

The joy of what has come to fruition here, came hand in hand with the circumstance of what was coming next!

Kaito

The room should have lightened with this news, and when the doctor left me alone with Cinder again. She was fixated on her sister and I was happy for her… for them both and their family, but my heart still felt heavy. It was selfish. A selfishness neither I nor my people had time for right now. People lay dying as we spoke, dying of a curable disease.

Cinder’s words broke through my shock. I dragged the hand that wasn’t occupied squeezing hers through my messy (now tangled) hair. “The Draft…” I exhaled. Not only was the plague killing people but the administration was killing people! My administration! I had already lost this battle once. But I was about to be Emperor, accepting defeat was no longer a luxury I had. “Stars! I tried… before… but… Father…” I shook my head. I couldn’t speak ill of him. “I’ll find a way,” I promised her, my gaze locked on hers. “I will.”

But then her words were about me and I felt panic rising in my chest. Because she couldn’t…. could she? No… she… told me no… every time… she… Cinder saw me as a friend… her sovereign and her friend. She’d been clear on that. Hadn’t she?

“I don’t want you to give her what she wants.”

My heart was going to break through my ribcage. I only became aware of my hand on her cheek and my forehead against hers when I felt the heat of her breath on my lips as I tried to make my own into an even rhythm. “I don’t… I can’t…” Oh, my stars!! “Cinder… I don’t think I have a choice. I… can’t put my happiness… my life above the lives of all the suffering people of the Commonwealth.” A lump swelled in my throat. “Of the entire Earthen Union… No matter what I wish for…” I inhaled… my eyes falling closed and for a moment… a wild, impossible moment I believed I could do it.

I could kiss her, I could tell her I had fallen madly in love with her. I could… “I should have kissed you when I had a chance… it will be my deepest held regret, Cinder. Always.” I whispered. It wasn’t the first time I had expressed a similar sentiment to her. I pulled away, keeping only her hand in mine.

My eyes fixed on hers for what once again could be the last time. “Whatever happens next Cinder… please just know I did my best… for my people… for you. And I am deeply sorry if I fail you or my country.” I squeezed her hand one last time. “I have to… go.” I stepped away before I did something stupid and dangerous, like following up on that urge for just one kiss. I exited into the medical wing, not the visitor's room, and I ran… like a coward. I ran, like a broken-hearted nineteen-year-old boy.

Cinder

My world stopped living, stopped spinning, and I felt myself becoming a statue. Unmoving. Uncertain what to do or say. I saw his back, the door close and my hands came up to cup my mouth to stop the sound threatening to escape.

Tears formed into droplets, burning my eyes before they began to fall. Making me swivel on my feet to look away from the last place I saw him leaving me. Because that’s what he had just done, right? Kai had said goodbye to me, and told me he didn’t want me. And it wasn’t unexpected. Of course, he didn’t. He didn’t need to promise me anything. I was indebted to him, not the other way around.

I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall freely. These were full of painful intentions. Ones that should never be stopped. Until I replayed what he said.

“I should have kissed you when I had a chance… it will be my deepest held regret, Cinder. Always.”

His deepest regret? “Stars! No! No!” shaking my head. “No….” But it was true. I may have fallen in love with my friend. I’d told myself it could go nowhere. “Stars!!!!” However, did this mean he had fallen in love with me too?

It was too late. Nothing could come of this. He had made his choice. And I couldn’t stop him. Because if Kai wanted my help to stop this. He wouldn’t have left me standing here alone. This was as far as our paths were meant to be entwined. No matter how concerned I was for him. I was nothing special. Once I left this palace tonight, who knew if I would even be allowed to return?

‘Ahh… Miss Linh. You are still here.’ I swiped at my eyes with the back of my hand before nodding my head.

“Nope, just a figment of your imagination, Doc.” Trying to conceal the emotions.

‘Of course, because of course, you heard my warning not to return to the palace while the Lunar delegation was here. And yet here you are. Your sister is healing. So, please this time listen to me. Say good night and leave these grounds. I will send you the ‘all clear’ when you can come back.’

I nod my head slowly. Because I no longer had a reason other than Peony to stay. “What about P?” I asked.

‘I will take care of her; I promise she will be looked after like royalty.’ His words didn’t hold much weight with me, however with no orange light flashing. I knew he was telling me the truth.

It was time for me to say goodbye to Peony and leave the palace.

The End

#storytime #thelunarchronicles #cinder #linhcinder #princekaito #prince kai #au

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outofthefires · 7 months ago

Text

A Rose from the Ashes. SL03 - A Tale by Cinder & Kaito - Part 2

֍ Kaito ֍

There it was that inner well of strength that my father gave me, it woke me up as I heard Cinder mention her sister. Cinder had stood up; her hands were gone… but they had accomplished their intended task.

I stood tall next to her, eyes burning and a voice still straining. “Perhaps we should let Peony decide,” I said plainly.

‘Your Highness she is so young… and her mother…’ The doctor began.

“Her mother has allowed her to be placed into the care of the imperial medical research team. And, true… she is too young. Too young to die, too young to suffer, too young to have to make this decision. But she is suffering, she is dying… she is also clever, and kind… This world has forced this upon her, we can’t force anything else she didn’t ask for.”

But really what was the choice… potently die from a chance of a cure or… die in a few days possibly hours, when she entered the fourth stage of the disease. “How would you feel about that Cinder?”

֍ Cinder ֍

Warning flashed in my vision, telling me to stop and slow down. To avoid the extreme changes within me. But there was no way.

At first when I heard Kai’s voice, certain he would disagree with me. And I couldn’t have healed it against him. He had a commonwealth to consider, and I… I had one life I could not let go of.

However, as the prince spoke, before my eyes I saw the transformation of a prince into an emperor. He spoke of empowering my baby sister to make her own decisions.

I swallowed down the frowning lump which wouldn’t allow me to speak. Shaking my head, and then nodding. My hands clasped together so I didn’t throw myself at Kai and hug him.

“Yes…. Yes…. Please… yes…. She is…” I took a few steps forward. “Peony is intelligent, she will make the correct decision. Please.” My hands held before clasped as in prayer. “Yes...” my voice broke. “Yes...” I said once again.

The doctor rubbed his furrowed brow before placing his glasses back on his face. ‘I don’t believe this is a good discussion to have with emotions running so high.’ He stated. Holding his hand up to silence me when he saw my lips parting. ‘But, As she is a child, and her weight low. We could give her half a dose of the medicine, and still have enough to test and replicate if necessary.’

Now his eyes were on me. ‘I hope you can live with the outcome of this. You have been reckless with your own life. And not that of your sister.’ His voice has been so low. Just for me to hear, and these messages decide effect came to life right away.

Guilty, lost, humbled, and still. I didn’t want to stop. “When can we try?” I asked.

‘No time as the present.’ The doctor slowly walking back to the android for the so-called antidote.

Giving me time to reach out to squeeze his hand. “Kai… Thank you… I….” Words were lost to me. How did I thank him for this opportunity?

֍ Kaito ֍

I listened to Cinder… the hope in her voice, the desperation. I knew it all too well. But I knew this was a risk. When the Doctor agreed I felt… hope.

It was dangerous. I knew it was… but this child deserved to live. They all did… and if… I let myself imagine Peony healthy. I imagined what it would mean for the whole planet. Just for a second until I felt Cinder’s hand.

I looked at her. “We have to tell her the truth... that it could be dangerous,” I told Cinder, resting my free hand on top of hers. “But we can’t tell her it came from the Queen… if it…” I couldn’t say it out loud. I couldn’t get her hopes up any higher. “It could be a security breach and who knows what the Lunars would do if they thought we leaked this information. Only the Imperial advisor and I know about this… and it needs to stay that way until I…” I cleared my throat. I couldn’t finish that sentence either. I trusted Cinder not to say anything… If she hadn’t spread the story of the bomb that Cress dropped on us… then there was no way she was going to tell anyone this.

Then we were walking following the doctor… he muttered and tapped on his portscreen the whole time. People seemed to jump out of his way… like they were used to his distracted behaviour, and possibly had been ploughed over by him in a state like this.

Then I realised I was still holding onto Cinder like she was my lifeline… as though… maybe… I could be hers. Just for a second, just for this moment… because if this worked. It would be the very last time. If this worked… there wasn’t another choice.

֍ Cinder ֍

Somehow walking through these sterile white corridors had become the norm for me. Having been in and out of here since the night my step mother signed me over to become a lab-rat.

I didn’t want to expend too much energy considering where the doctor was taking us. “I agree fully to anything you ask of me.” I was willing to give my life all so my younger sister could have this chance. “You know, I would never share anything you tell me in confidence. Never!”

The sound of our footsteps echoed on the floor as we came to the door, but I stopped Kai once the doctor had rushed in. Looking down to find our hands still entwined together. He hadn’t let go… and nor had I.

“Kai…. I….”

Warning lights began to show. I felt hot under the collar of my shirt and jacket. Was I about to do this? Yes… I had too… I wanted to tell him everything….

The truth….

All of it….

EVERYTHING!

He deserves to hear it from me!

Gazing up at him, his black hair messy and falling into his eyes, the solemn look on his face.My heart did something at seeing him so clearly stood at the precipice of a decision that no one our age should have to make. And seeing this, I couldn’t… I couldn’t tell him anything… I couldn’t place my burdens upon his shoulders too.

“Thank you, you—”

Before I could say anything more the doors slide open, and the old doctor frowned looking us over.

‘Are you both waiting for a formal appointment or invitation to join? This was your idea after all.’

֍ Kaito ֍

“I know you’d never break my confidence,” I told her, whispering as we walked to make sure the doctor didn’t hear. “But we couldn’t ask #Peony to keep a secret like this.” I had just convinced the doctor that she could make this decision herself and if he heard me say this… it wouldn’t bolster that position. But not telling her had less to do with her maturity and more to do with her purity and naivety.

I watched her out of the side of my eye… my gaze flicked to her constantly but I was afraid to linger, in case I blurted out everything. I couldn’t… and yes part of that was because it would be cruel to say these things if… in the end, it could never be. But even worse… what if she doesn’t return a modicum of my feelings? She declined my invitation to the ball after all.

Prince or not… there was no rule that she had to return my feelings. In fact, her complete and utter lack of swooning was what I found incredible to be around. She didn’t pander to me or say what she thought I wanted to hear. She spoke to me… real conversations. I just knew that everything she showed me was the truest version of Cinder. Not polished etiquette and predictable flirtation. Or any flirtation, really… apart from me. But I did fluster her, even if she always rallied.

“You don’t need to thank me for this Cinder.” I clasped her hand in both of mine now. I looked into those unusual eyes of hers and tried for the strongest smile I could muster. “I really, truly hope this works.” My eyes burned, but I meant it. Even if it meant there was a ticking clock over my head if it did. I meant it, even if it meant the end of the life, I’d wanted all my nineteen years.

I meant it… even if it meant I would never know a love like the one my parents shared. Or that I would never dance with Cinder again, not in private… not at a ball. Never sneak out and have her scowl at me for ditching my security.

Then the Doctor spoke, and I sighed. Stepping into a room with bustling droids and one of the Doctor's human assistants… a tall dark-skinned girl with braids tied back in a ponytail so long it brushes the hem of her lab coat. Beyond her was a window… “That’s… Peony’s room…” I saw her there sleeping with her little doll.

This was the room behind her, the one the droid vanished into. The pink curtains were pulled so the visitation room couldn’t be seen.

‘Oh… Doctor Erlund… I was just recording the patient's vitals…’ She coughed. ‘Your Highness… I wasn’t expecting to see you here, please accept my deepest sympathies for the loss of your Father. He was truly a great man.’

I cleared my throat and nodded respectfully. “Thank you,” I whispered, my eyes flicked back to the window that housed Peony’s sleeping form.

‘The little miss cannot see us or hear us in here. You can speak freely and not wake her. The window is a portscreen, we thought a two-way mirror would be…’ She trailed off. We all knew. Why force a child to look at the marks of the disease that was going to kill her? ‘She can choose her own view… she had mermaids and an underwater palace all day today.’ She smiled… looking sad I knew; she’d fallen under this little girl's spell too. There was heartbreak in her eyes.

֍ Cinder ֍

I hadn’t expected anyone to be here in the room when #DoctorErland opened the doors, and some part of me felt highly protective of my #Peony being in her bed asleep not knowing she was being watched.

However, when I recognised the tall, beautiful woman by her voice, my shoulders relaxed. This was the same voice who I had overheard telling #DoctorErland of when I was locked down on a lab table!

Standing next to Kai, I hide our clasped hands when the lab assistants eyes fell on them. Having her see the connection between my friend and I, again had me feeling raw. I wasn’t ready to let go of him just yet. I needed to feel his hand in mine, even if it was for a short period of time.

“Thank you for looking after My sister.” I told her when I saw the ease in which she glanced at #Peony. “And for letting her have her mermaids.” She just smiled a little uncomfortably.

‘You will find most of the people here who know your sister, have come to feel… attached…’ I saw sorrow in those eyes now. I guessed feeling a connection with anyone in this wing was a bad idea. Yes... yes… I am sure Fateen-Jie has work to be getting on with. Indeed, I’ve just send a file of data I need you to analyse. And it is of top priority.’ #DoctorErland seemed a little snipping towards the tall beauty for no apparent reason.

‘All my work is of urgent priority Doctor; we are trying to save all our people in the Eastern Commonwealth.’ I couldn’t help but smile when she gave him a taste of his own medicine back.

Turning to face Kai, she bowed her head, taking her leave before the sound of her heels took her out the door.

“I’d say you know just how to annoy your team.” I told the doctor walking closer to the glass.

I wanted to go into the room, to kiss #Peony’s forehead. To tell her I was back and explain the situation to her slowly. But how would I explain it to Kai? I placed my gloved hand on the glass pushing myself up against it.

“Peony?” I called her name softly.

“Pee, it’s Cinder…. I’m here?” Seeing her sleeping, hugging the doll in her arms, covered with blankets given to her by Kai and his team here.

‘Cin..der…’ I couldn’t believe how broken her voice sounded. Seeing the blemishes covering her arms, hands and face broke my heart.

“Hi… how are you?” It was a silly question I knew.

‘I’m dan…cing..’ she tried to hum a tune. I felt a lump growing in my throat. How could I tell her about the possibility of an antidote? What if I gave her hope? And it didn’t work? Stars! Was the doctor, right?

֍ Kaito ֍

I hadn’t even thought to conceal the fact that #Cinder’s hand was in mine… In fact, I hardly registered that she had until after Fateen had left us here.

I had put her in danger again! Stars! How many people had passed getting here? The whole Palace would be talking. If this got back to #Levana… I couldn’t bear to think what she might do! Before I could spiral down that deep, dark hole my heart was breaking. Was it ever going to stop breaking?

Cinder’s voice when she spoke to her little sister was so shaky, so unlike anything I had ever heard from her. It sent a chill racing down my spine. I lifted Cinder’s hand and squeezed it. “It's okay, Cinder. Let me.” I let go of her hand, for the first time since she’d taken mine in the lab and moved to the button the doctor was holding to allow Peony to hear us.

“#Peony… It’s Prince Kai.” It was strange to refer to myself like that… but she liked it. “I know you’re dancing but I need to ask you a very important question.”

She whispered my name hoarsely… she was getting so ill… I asked a droid to help her take some water.

“C’mon little flower, can you wake up for me, just for a minute and then you can rest.” I couldn’t ask her this when she was hardly conscious.

‘Prince Kai? I can’t see you the drapes are closed.’ Finally, she sounded like she was awake.

“I’m in the room with the doctor because I need to ask you a very grown-up question. Do you feel well enough for that?”

‘Sure… but important? I’m not very important… you should ask Cinder, she’s clever…’ #Peony was definitely awake now, but weak.

“Oh no… there’s no-one more important than you right now Linh-mei. But you can make any choice you want, okay… no one will make you do anything.” Peony coughed, and winced. “I have medicine here…”

‘Will it make me better!?’ She tried to sit up.

“I don’t know, little flower. I hope so, but no one knows. Not even the doctor, they still need to do lots of tests… but…” I let go of the button before my voice cracked.

‘It will be too late…’ She said, her lip wobbling.

“Yes, it will be too late. But because you’re such a clever girl we wanted to let you choose. This medicine could make you better or it could make you sicker… or…”

‘I could die?’ Tears ran down her pock-marked cheek. ‘But I’m going to die anyway… I pretended like I wasn’t… because it made people sad but… I know.’

I released the button, and tears escaped and landed on the back of my hand. “Yes, Peony… you are right. This medicine might make you better… but we can’t know for sure.”

‘Did the strange doctor make it? Or the friendly one?’ She asked.

“It wasn’t made by a Doctor in the palace,” I told her, honestly.

‘Where did it come from?’ She asked the one question I couldn’t answer.

“I can’t tell you that its….” I struggled for a word.

‘Secret Prince stuff?’ She quizzed.

I couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Exactly, it’s secret prince stuff.”

‘If it works it could help other people who are sick too?’

“Yes, it could.”

‘But even if it doesn’t the doctors could… learn things… how to fix it. To help other people?’ I did a double take, I let go of the button and turned to the doctor.

‘We could make new discoveries with testing… it could be useful if, in fact, it is intended as a genuine cure.’ He explained and I pressed the button again.

“The doctors here could learn a lot about that too,” I told her, and she was quiet for a long time. She was quiet for a very long time, holding onto her doll.

‘Cinder… Are you still there?’ She asked. With my hand off the button, I held out the other one to her.

֍ Cinder ֍

This wasn’t as easy as I first imagined, when I spoke to the doctor and Kai about giving my little sister this chance, it felt black and white.

1.If they gave her antidote, it could survive her from an illness so many had died from.

2.If they didn’t, she would die. Because death was knocking on her door, and dread filled me with every passing moment she would be lost to be before anything could come of the work I had been doing with the doctor.

I wanted nothing more than to give her the chance to survive. Give her a chance to grown into the beautiful woman I always imaged her to be. To live those dreams, she shared with #Iko and me. But standing here, with my eyes closed, my forehead on the wall hoping the cooling sensation would hold off the stomping headache, as well as the hidden tears threatening to fall.

However, listening to her conversation with her Prince, those tears streaming down my face…. Tears! All my life I wanted to cry, to feel tears in my eyes. To be a normal girl just like the others. To show my stepmother, I too had a heart that felt pain and emotions! But right now, with my slight imparted I wanted this wish to come undone. I wanted whatever Dr Erland had done to be, to be disengaged!

Peony was far too intelligent not to understand what was being asked of her, and her question told everyone in this room the truth. No… This was not an easy task to achieve. Gone were my quick comebacks, the sarcasm, the rebuttals. Instead, all I felt was heartbreak, with a soul crushing awareness.

“I… I’m here..” Opening my eyes, I used the back of my gloved hand to wipe away the tears. Dr Erland cleared his throat. ‘Gather yourself Miss Lhin.’ He stepped forward, his finger hovering over the button on the wall. Nodding to let me know he was ready when I was.

I saw the outstretched hand from Kai, taking it to step close. Nodding once. “I am right here Pee. I’m not leaving you alone.”

‘I know you would never.’ She whispered, before finding her voice again. ‘What do you think I should do?’ She asked.

More tears flowed from my eyes. “Pee, you must make the choice. I told the prince and the doctor I wouldn’t make you do anything you didn’t want too.”

She went silent for a few minutes before continuing to speak. ‘Will you be mad if I take it and I die?’ my legs about gave out from under me. More tears falling.

“I would never be mad at you. You are my little sister. I will… never… be mad. Swallowing back to attempt to keep my voice even.

‘It could help so many people. If… if it doesn’t help me.’ She sounded resolute and so grown up in the same breath.

‘I want to take it Cinder. But before I do, I need to tell you. I want you to do it…. I want you to keep the dream alive.’ I closed my eyes. I knew she was being secretive for me. For the dream we had seen together.

I squeezed the hand holding mine, the warning telling me to be careful. But there was no listening to them now.

‘Pince Kai?’ She addressed her monarchy with Grace. ‘Please tell the doctor I would like to take the medication now.’

֍ Kaito ֍

I kept my hand on Cinder’s knowing there was nothing I could do that would make her feel any less alone right now. But I knew from sitting by my father’s side as he passed… it would have been so much worse if I was alone, all by myself. #Torin’s presence was barely a comfort… but it was just… better. There was no way to put the feeling into words.

I glanced at the doctor, and he nodded, handing the potential miracle in a bottle to the droid. “Peony...” I said… when I had a grip on my emotions. “You’re very brave. That was a very hard choice. No matter what you choose… you are still the bravest person I ever met. The droid is bringing you the medicine.” I couldn’t let myself call it a cure or an antidote because, right now; it was just liquid in a jar. A wish, a hope, a dream… I looked at Cinder. The death of all dreams. All contained in a shiny little tube of glass.

‘You two should go to the visitor's room... Let her see you. I’ll remain and monitor her condition.’ The doctor pointed to a doorway. ‘That will lead to the visitor's room, try to keep her calm.’

I pressed the button again. “Cinder and I are going to come and sit with you in the visitor's room, where you can see us. You won't be able to speak to us for a minute but then we’ll be right where we normally are, okay?”

‘Promise you won’t go away?’ She whimpered.

“I promise. We’ll be right there. A prince never breaks a promise. You want to see us, don’t you?” She just nodded. I could see the droid preparing things near her bed. “Okay, just a moment little flower and we’ll see you.” I lifted my hand off the button and the doctor handed me two earpieces, explaining they would let him speak to us privately.

I stepped to the sink that plainly said “Hand Wash Only” above it, but cupped water into my hand and splashed my face. I placed a finger beneath Cinder’s chin and tipped her face up, letting her see as I composed myself. Taking a breath and morphing my expression into a mask of calm.

“You can be brave too, Cinder. Stand tall and look strong. Even if you don’t feel like you are.” I whispered.

֍ Cinder ֍

“Stand tall… Look strong…” repeating the advice, hoping it would make me believe and act right away.

Closing my eyes I allowed Kai to dampen my face. The relief to come from this action was incomparable. Having never truly felt anything equivalent to these emotions, I had no idea how to manage them. And with my sister in the next room, waiting to see us… I knew I had to stop myself. I had to be strong, the tearless Cinder she came to rely on.

“Do not allow that android to inject Peony until she can see us.” I told #DoctorErland. “I will not let her take this step alone. She has me.” There sadness in my voice had to be replaced with hope. and Quickly!

‘I promise, I will have her bed moved closer to the visitor glass too.’ #DoctorErland gave me a knowing look. I guess he was getting to understand me a little better with all the time we had spent together.

Did I want to open the door the droids used to run and hug my sister? Yes. Could I do it with the Queen from hell here? No. If word were to get back to her… and Kai… how and where would the doctor or I even begin? #DoctorErland stepped up to push the door open for Kai and myself to take. ‘Just through here and you will be before your sister Miss Cinder.’

I glanced up to meet Kai’s eyes. “Thank you. For staying with us. We truly appreciate your support when I know you have the world on your shoulders right now.” I couldn’t not acknowledge his presence and how grateful both my sister and I were for it.

It wasn’t far to walk, through the sterile room. This short cut would have been nice to know about when I’d been visiting my sister before. But I wouldn’t dwell on that fact right now.

‘Cinder…’ the moment she saw us her full eyes streamed with tears.

“Here… Pee… I’m right here… and so is Prince Kai…” the blemish skin, the wet hair stuck to her forehead, the doll in her arms telling me how weak #Peony’s grasp had become since I last saw her.

‘Are… are brave girls… allowed to feel scared, Prince Kai?’ She asked the question, and my eyes blurred with a lump growing in my throat.

֍ Kaito ֍

It was a tip that I had learned when this horrid plague began. Seeing the death toll and infection rates rise day after day made it hard to hold out hope, but life went on and I still had duties to carry out. I had to appear hopeful and… well, not like I was about to break down. I fitted the earpiece the doctor gave me into my ear and covered it with my curls, even though it was so small it was likely impossible to see.

“Don’t thank me Cinder, even if it's only a small chance to save her life… it’s not something I could walk away from,” I told her in the narrow passage between the two rooms. “I almost didn’t make it to the Doctor’s office…” I admitted. “I almost came right here… but I was afraid it might… Well, I couldn’t bring myself to be the one that might have caused her harm. And not without….” My throat grew tight, and I cleared it. “Someone she loves should be with her.”

By the time we stepped into the cosy viewing room for the sterile passage the pink drapes had been pulled back and her bed was moved as close to the glass as possible.

I pressed my hand to the glass and smiled, practised… calm in a crisis… none ot the tears I had shed behind the scenes. Not now. “Oh, don’t you know, little flower?” I said softly. “Nobody is brave without being afraid. If something isn’t frightening, then we don’t need to be brave. Being brave is being afraid, but doing it anyway.” I told her and it wasn’t placating. It was true. “Taking this medicine is very brave, but not taking it would be brave too… because both are frightening. But you need to do what you believe in the most.”

‘Do Prince’s get scared?’ She asked.

“All the time, and Emperor’s and Empress’. Kings and Queens and soldiers.” I found Cinder’s hand again beneath the viewing window and squeezed. “Sisters too.”

‘We are ready when Miss Lihn is ready.’ The doctor's voice came into my ear.

“Peony… the medicine is ready. Is this truly what you want?” I asked her one last time.

‘I am afraid. And I am brave.’ She dipped her chin and the lights glowed against her fever-beaded forehead. ‘Cinder… if… I… Tell Mom and #Pearl I was brave and I love them.’ Then she reached out to touch the glass.

‘And I love you, you’re my real sister too.’

There wasn’t enough training or practice to keep a tear from escaping now. The doctor's voice was over a speaker in #Peony’s room this time. ‘Droid, please administer the experimental drug now.’

I sighed in relief and terror. Relief that I didn’t have to say those words… It was cowardly. And terror because… what if?

I glanced at Cinder, and more tears came. ‘It’s okay to be scared.’ #Peony said to us both as the droid inserted the needle into the IV port. ‘Be brave too.’

The clear liquid drained from the syringe, and I found myself holding my breath, and trying my best to be brave.

֍ Cinder ֍

My mind spun out of control, what was I to do with this moment and all that had transpired?

With my friend, the prince, and soon to be emperor of our natation, told me he had planned to bring this antidote from the Luna Queen straight to #Peony’s bedside the moment he received it. To my stepsister telling me she loved me, and that I was her real sister! How in the name of the Stars could anyone be strong and show no emotions in the face of this declaration?

Kai’s hand found mine, while I placed my other over the small, blistered hand of my sister on the other side of the glass.

“I love you Pee… You are my real sister… You are my heart and my soul.” Somehow managing to keep the Trimble in my chest from being heard in my voice.

I had no idea where the Doctor’s voice came from, however I heard it in the distance telling the android to proceed with injecting #Peony, and I could swear my heart stopped.

Warning lights flashed over my retina display, but I turned them off. Nothing, not even my body telling me of the dangers to me would come between #Peony and I right now.

I don’t know how or when it happened, but I began to hum the song from the small music box Kai had gifted me. It had helped her before to sleep, so I hoped to give her some comfort with what was happening now. #Peony had been listening to music more over my last visits. Kai and his partner had danced for her, making her fall in love with the music and the idea of dancing in the arms of someone who would cherish her.

He gave her hope. He spoke to her with truth. And….. H. O. P. E!

As the android rolled back away from #Peony, the syringe disappeared into its chest compartment, I was holding my breath. Looking, watching, waiting. What was going to happen? How would she react to the drug? Would she convalesce? How soon will we know?

Uncertain how much time passed; I stood still not wanting to miss anything that could change in her body. However, she lay there in her bed, Still, her breathing heavy, her body weak. And… Well… Nothing happened?

I had to fight with myself to pull my eyes from her towards Kai.

“What…” I didn’t know what to ask… How? Turning my attention back to her, I just asked. “Pee… How are you feeling?” Would she tell me?

‘I.. I feel no different.’ She said with her dry throat.

I asked the droid to please give her some more water, before asking Kai.

“It didn’t work? She gave you something fake, in the hopes to trick you?”

My fist hit the glass wall in front of me. “This was all for nothing? The promise to healing and life… she lied!”

I knew my logical mind would tell me to wait, to give it time, no medication could be a miracle… Peony deserved a miracle!

֍ Kaito ֍

I had to loosen my grip on Cinder’s hand… worried I was squeezing it too tight… I waited… like this was some kind of magic potion and there would be a poof of smoke or a flash of light and #Peony would be transformed into her normal healthy self again. It took a few runs of the song Cinder was humming before I recognised the tune. I placed both my hands around hers now.

It was the song from my mother’s music box. Did that mean she’d played it for #Peony? Or did it just bring her comfort?

“I don’t…” I started to say. But then Cinder’s composure broke, and I sprang into action. Flipping the switch that meant #Peony couldn’t hear us and pulling Cinder into a tight hug. Spinning us so her back was to the glass.

‘It's far too early to see any results yet.’ The doctor tried to tell us into our ears.

“It’s okay Cinder…. Let it out; scream if you need to…. Cry… just don’t let Peony see.” I put my hand on the back of her head and hid her face against my shoulder… Stars!! Why was holding her so painful and so amazing at the same time?

I let her release all the emotions that she needed to. My gaze was on the half-dozing child. I wasn't sure how long we stood like that before a flicker drew my eyes to the monitor. Something had changed.

Her heart rate was flicking consistently between seventy-five and eighty… it wasn’t that… something else. A flicker.

Her temperature. It had been one hundred and five when we came in. It read one hundred and three now. Was this… could it really be…

“Cinder… Cinder her fever is breaking.” It dropped again… “Stars above…. The fever is dropping.”

֍ Cinder ֍

Anger, lost, guilt, hopelessness,these were the emotions filling everything from my thoughts, to my feelings, to need to blame myself.

If I hadn’t taken her with me to the junkyard! If I hadn’t let her dream of escaping and living free in the European Commonwealth… if I had taken better care!!!!

If…..

if………

IF!!!!!!!!!

I buried my face into Kai, chest. My hand fisted against him as I stood her losing myself.

“I… I….” I couldn’t! I was so strong for my friend telling him I would be there when he was lost. And here I was…a mess when the same time came for me!

I was a fraud! I couldn’t look after anyone or anything. I didn’t know why Kai had such faith in me.

“What?” I asked lifting my head slightly looking up at Kai’s face, because I didn’t dare to hope again. Not after everything #Peony had lived at such a young age.

“It’s going down?” asking

‘The prince is correct.’ The doctor affirmatively confirmed. ‘This is unexpected, for change to be seen so soon after administering the drugs.’

Finally, I wiped my tear-stained face before turning to look for myself. “So, the antidote works?” I asked seeing #Peony drifting off in her bed. I stepped out of Kai’s arms holding me.

‘It is too soon to determine such a thing; however this is a good start.’

֍ Kaito ֍

I knew it was foolish but hope swelled in my chest. Fevers went up and down all the time… but this seemed drastic. Stars above! Please!

Please, let this be the start of a miracle.

When Cinder righted herself, I let her go and stepped to the window to flip the switch. I leaned I knew it was foolish, but hope swelled in my chest. Fevers went up and down all the time… but this seemed drastic. Stars above! Please!

Please, let this be the start of a miracle.

When Cinder righted herself, I let her go and stepped to the window to flip the switch. I leaned her. “We’ll stay right here.” Was that a promise I could make? I could be called away at any second.

But until then I would be staying right here.

‘Will I be all better when I wake up?’ She asked and my heart sank as much as it had risen since I saw her temperature drop. “Probably not, but that won’t mean the medicine isn’t working. Sometimes things take a while, and you have been very sick for a very long time.” I told her honestly. “But sleep… sleep always makes us feel better and helps us heal.”

֍ Cinder ֍

She whispered; ‘good night.’ Her dry lips stuck together, I saw from the way her chest rises and fall not so rapidly now.

Resting my forehead to the glass, I couldn’t take my tear-filled eyes from her. Unsure when things could turn.

‘She is sleeping.’ The doctor’s voice broke the silence in my mind. But I knew this really. My own system following her vitals from where I stood. ‘Now we monitor the changes.’ He added.

My legs gave out from under me, but I was lucky enough to be leaning against the glass, so I slide down it until I was sitting with my back to the glass and my eyes closed.

I brought my knees up to my chest, pushing the legs of my pants as far down as possible.

“You are so good with her. You gave her the strength to give this a go.” I didn’t look up at him.

Kai had gone over and beyond the call of duty of any friendship, let alone a new one such as ours.

“I’m sorry…” I told him again…. Because I had lost all aspects of my heart and a way to speak about all the things I felt right now. How did I say I was full of hope one moment, and dread the next? After you had been the one to beg for this to be done to your little sister?

֍ Kaito ֍

As soon as #Peony fell asleep I flipped the switch so no sound from this room would disturb her, to allow Cinder to cry, scream or just talk. I reached out to catch her when it looked like she was about to fall, but she seemed to catch herself and slide to the floor. I chose to sit next to her, facing the glass in case anything changed.

“I’ve visited a lot of schools and children's centres… I guess a young Prince is more exciting to kids than an adult Emperor. I always tried to make time to speak with some of them personally.” I laughed awkwardly, dragging my hand through my messier-than-ever hair. “It might sound conceited but when you realise how many people in the world look to you to see how to behave; it feels like a responsibility. I always thought that kindness was the most important thing a person could possess. And it's not something you can just pretend to be… you have to mean it, especially with children, they are the most intuitive of us all.”

She apologised and I shook my head. “There's nothing to apologise for Cinder… if anything I should apologise to you… this was a risk… but she… Peony is…” I sighed. Could I say that #Peony was special? Was that fair on the hundreds of thousands of children dying in quarantine right now? “She deserves a chance… and it could be a long shot… but it is also the only shot. All the years of research and we can barely even treat the symptoms never mind a cure… and somehow… This… 𝕨𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟…” I said the last part through gritted teeth. “Magically shows up with a cure.”

This wasn't a coincidence; I knew that Levana had something to do with the Letumosis outbreak. It was too much of A coincidence, that she shows up now with a supposed miracle.

#Peony’s temperature continued to decline steadily as I watched the monitor. I pulled out my port screen and sent a calm to Nancy to bring us something to eat and drink, but I had a feeling that neither of us was particularly hungry.

֍ Cinder ֍

Reaching out I took his hand, I knew the gesture meant something completely different to him than it did to me. But it gave me such comfort to know I had a true friend in him.

“That’s a lot of pressure to be placed on small shoulders Kai. Your people may look for all those things without really knowing what it did to you. And you… from where I stood looking up at the net screens… you have anyways achieved the highest of standards.”

He was too kind, not just to those he knew, but to anyone who asked for his attention. Which is why I knew the true meaning of us sitting here. We both knew the real reason #Peony got a shot. Well… the doctor and I knew the reason anyway.

“I know this must be hard for you… to give my sister a chance that every child her age and younger deserves it too…. And I know me being here has a big part on the decision… and I also understand how I should feel guilty because she.. Peony has been given this opportunity… but I don’t… would I do this for others? Hundred percent… I will give my all and then some for you, this empire… our nation and all those who live in it… if my sister lives… anything is worth this opportunity.”

I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful, on the contrary, I needed Kai to understand I had to put my sister first, and I appreciated him for helping me.

Sitting up straighter now, my eyes moved over the room, I checked that we weren’t being over heard. Because if the Queen of Luna heard what Kai was saying… Only stars knew what she would do.

“Are we ready to face the facts of what Cress discovered and advised us?” Lowering my tone. “Kai… if this drug works…. And stars know I want it to work… her ask… it is too much… I don’t believe in consequences… I… I know I don’t have proof… but I know in my soul…. She has something to do with the loss of our emperor’s life.. may his soul rest for eternal…”

֍ Kaito ֍

“I don’t to make it sound like it’s a burden… but sometimes I feel the pressure. I was born with a purpose and that is something that many people never find no matter how hard they search for it. I just don’t want to let anyone down.” I admitted… “I know that I cannot be everyone’s ideal ruler. But I still want to be the kind that does what is best for all… including those that might not approve of my choices.” I thought back to the outbreak in the market. Reading the names… the newborn baby that was named for me… and never got to grow up… because we… not just me or my father, but all the rulers and governments of this planet had failed to contain and eliminate this threat.

And now… Me… Just Me… May have a chance to end this global crisis, and inadvertently bring around the destruction of my own country.

She understood. She had no idea what that meant to me. I nodded; I was glad she did… “It wasn’t hard to choose this… or to allow Peony to choose this. It’s a risk, but…” It had occurred to me as we sat here. “It is also the quickest way to find out if this is real. If we waited for weeks or months for studies to be performed… #Peony and hundreds of others would be lost… We would have lost our chance to try for her…”

I wanted to tell Cinder no… I wasn’t ready. I wanted to pretend I was just a boy sitting here… waiting for my friend to wake up and be well.

I couldn’t deny anything that Cinder said, she heard everything that Cress had told me. The two-week deadline since we had first spoken to her and planned to reconnect was approaching, but I may need to make my decision before then. “I’m not sure anyone will ever have proof…” I hoped so, maybe one day someone would. “But I also think the answer to that has been made very plain tonight.” I replayed the casual way #TheLunarQueen decided to hand me that shiny little vial.

“As badly as I want justice… I need to think about all the people that this could save right now… how can I walk away from something that could put an end to all of this suffering Cinder?” I felt my eyes stinging now… Of course, none of this mattered if #Peony didn’t get well. “I’ve sat by unable to do anything while people die… little babies, named for me, getting sick without any hope of recovery… sitting idly by and allowing my own people to be used as guinea pigs to try and cure this disease.” I had voiced my objection to the cyborg draft to my father and I was unsuccessful… I could have fought harder, but I didn’t. I let it go and prayed to the stars that they would find a cure or any kind of effective treatment.

֍ Cinder ֍

Resting my head in the glass, I listened to him with my ears open to any sound or alter, letting us know she was getting any better. “No one is expecting the stars and the moon from you.” Or at least I hoped they didn’t. “You need to stay true to yourself, to listen to everyone and then do what you feel is right.”

Now wasn’t the time for me to push him of what this nation felt was fair, I was proof there were issues with our government, and society.

“I feel selfish… I shouldn’t have pushed you to take this step sooner than when you were ready. But…” tugging on my gloves to distract myself for a moment. “I’m glad you understand what the cost of waiting would have been… and I cannot... I wouldn’t have waiting for those tests.”

Stars, I wanted the doctor to take my blood and pump it into my sister, just to try and give her more time. My gaze moved from him to the ceiling, and then returned again. Chewing on my lips as I felt dread coiled its slimy way up inside of me.

“She’s got us in a hole and has pulled the ladder up. Knowing full well, we can only live if we aren’t in the hole…” I dragged my fingers through my pulled back hair. “Why can’t I think clearly? There has to be a way out of this! Out of giving her everything she wants!” I wanted to scream ‘Without giving her you…’ but it was unacceptable for me to have an outburst like that right now.

“I… I am so sorry Kai,… I’m not sure what we can do.” For someone who always had the answers for everything, it was disconcerting to be in this position.

And then a small light flickered on. “What about Cress?” I asked him. “What if we bring Her in front of all the Commonwealth? In front of all the leaders? They would have to believe us, right? She said she could give us the information, so why can’t we show the others it too?”

֍ Kaito ֍

“I really wish that was true… and it might be… only…” I dragged a hand through my messy hair. “I am… I want to be the best I can be for my people; I have had almost nineteen years to prepare for this…” I neglected to mention that my father was a few years older than me when he took the throne. But that train of thought came to a crashing halt.

“No Cinder… you didn’t pressure me into anything… The moment she handed that little bottle to me I knew nothing was ever going to be the same. Even it is a fake.” I looked up and Peony, her temperature and heart rate were still dropping slowly. “If anything, I feel like I put you in the hot seat suggesting we allow your sister to decide.”

The picture that Cinder painted with her words couldn’t be clearer… there was no denying it. #TheLunarQueen had me cornered.

I smiled a little at her next words… it gave me some kind of comfort that she was exhausting all of her intellectual resources to try and find a way out of this. I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe she wanted what I did. But only for a moment, then I shook my head.

“The Queen already believes I am harbouring Lunar fugitives… even if it was at all possible to get #Cress here. It would only prove her claim to be true and we would be obliged to hand her over to the Lunars. Even if we complied… it would be all #Levana needs to declare open war.” I shook my head… Levana’s absurd rant about Lunars in the courtyard of the Palace is still fresh in my mind. “Cress would be executed.”

I reached out and took Cinder’s hand. “I just… wish…” My eyes stung. “Things could be different. Perhaps… with the Grace of the Stars… someday it will be.”

Then #Peony’s voice creaked her sister’s name… she was awake again. I flipped the switch so she could hear us too. ‘Cinder… are you?’ She lifted her head and coughed… not the rattling, bloody cough she had battled for days. She reached out for a tumbler of water and lifted it to her lips by herself! Her hand shook… but she did it! Then she spotted her sister. ‘You’re both still here!’ she smiled.

֍ Cinder ֍

“Have some faith in your people, they may be frightened. However, they had witnessed you growing up before their eyes.” These were some of the comments I had been used to hearing at the market place whenever news of Kai has been displayed on the net screens.

“The love they shared with you over the emperors’ passing, it was truly a window into the affection they also have for you.” I meant every word of what I had said. “You may have big shoes to fill, however the stars will bear witness for you. You will make their people proud of you and your achievements to come as their leader.”

Then I was shaking my head. He hadn’t put me in a hot seat… why would he think such a thing?

But then Pure terror stopped all thoughts running through my mind. All the things I had been thinking of sharing, the comments he had made, the step we could take. All gone. I hadn’t even flinched at Kai taking my hand in his.

“She… thinks you’re harbouring Lunar fugitives?” My mouth went so dry, fear filled me with a sickening feeling. Was is me? Had I placed my friend… the boy I knew I’d falling in love with… in mortal peril?

“No….” I couldn’t help myself from being confused at why I hadn’t listened to #DoctorErland and Kai. Andy just stayed away. “We cannot let her harm, Cress. Not for helping us.” I felt myself slipping into the darkness of defeat once more. And we hadn’t even reached a Pivotal point in this fight against the #LunaQueen.

Before I could say anything more... I heard her voice, making turn where I sat to face the glass.

“I’m right here Pee… we are here... we wouldn’t leave you alone.” I squeezed Kai’s hand at the sight inside the medical room. She had picked up the water tumbler herself. Her temperature had eased, and her heart rate.

Moving my gaze to Kai, whispering. “Please let me I’m not imagining this?” She was getting better?

֍ Kaito ֍

Cinder’s words struck a bell inside me… Trust my people. I did trust my people… I could trust my people to do what was right. If I had to do the unthinkable, they would rise up and protect the Commonwealth… Would I be the emperor that allowed war back onto Earth after one and a quarter century? Was eliminating this disease worth sacrificing world peace?

I scoffed and nodded, glad of the distraction from darker (if only moderately) topics. “Yes, she believes she saw a Lunar in the courtyard at the protest; before she brainwashed them and made them leave.” I tousled my hair again. “She’s utterly ridiculous. How does she presume that a Lunar ship both left the ports on the moon 𝕒𝕟𝕕 entered Earthen airspace and landed completely undetected by either side?” I paused. “Sometimes, I think that the bioelectrical manipulation addles their own brains along with others. But if #Cress is indeed and ally we can’t sacrifice her to #Levana’s wrath.” That was my burden alone.

All attention had turned to the young girl and the miracle of her raising her own cup of water. “Stars Above.” I - whispered, grasping Cinder’s hand. “I assure you Cinder… you are truly seeing this. #Peony sipped again and coughed a little, a droid was there to tip the tumbler the right way before it spilt down her front. She had reached for the water on pure instinct… like anyone with a cough might. Her body was capable of responding to a basic need she’d not been able to do for herself as long as I had known her.

“#Peony?” I asked. She took a paper towel from a droid, as it attempted to wipe a small trail of water from her chin and did it herself. “How are you feeling?”

The child stopped and seemed to take inventory of her own body. ‘Sore… tired… my spots are itchy.’ This last one seemed to embarrass her. ‘But I think…’ she inhaled deeply… like she was testing her lungs, the death rattle that had been her breathing for days, a wheeze now. ‘I think I feel better…. Am I getting better?’ she gazed at her sister. ‘Cinder! Am I?’

‘Young Miss Lihn,’ #DrErlund's voice was piped into Peony’s room not our ears. ‘May we procure another blood sample to check the progress of the treatment?’

‘Yes!’

She said too eagerly. Sticking her arm out to each passing droid. ‘Yes!!! I want to know if it's working.’

‘Please, child.’ The disembodied voice said. ‘Please remain calm, you must not exhaust yourself. You must conserve your energy if you are to heal.’

֍ Cinder ֍

“Once we have our answers from in here, we will consider our next steps with Cress, and the enemies within your palace.” I told him. However, I wasn’t so sure what those steps would turn out to be.

My eyes were locked on my little sister, collecting data of the number of blemishes upon her skin, the size the colour, the stage they told a story of. Analysing what could be seen visually was all I could do to help at this stage. “Itching?” I asked with curiosity. “Peony is it a little itchy feeling. Or the kind that tells you something is wrong?”

She continued to listen to the doctor and the androids working to collect samples from her.

‘Do you remember when I fell from the blocks and scraped my knees and hands?’ She asked. ‘Well, it’s like that. When the scabs were itching. Pearl kept telling on me, and mom was so annoyed with you for letting me climb up them in the first place.’ She coughed her breath still overwhelmed from the amount she spoke.

“She’s getting betting… Kai… itching... and are you listening to her speaking?” She still did not sound herself. But it was a vast improvement.

Excitement blossomed in me. “Stars… is it too soon to hope for something good to come out of today?”

I didn’t want to think about the future or the consequences this will have. Kai had a lot of pressure on him, but seeing my sister, hearing her, bearing witness to this miracle. For now. This is what we needed to concentrate upon.

Or at least this is what I told myself as I sat here moving into Kai to give him a half hug.

“Thank you…. Thank you for letting us try this…”

֍ Kaito ֍

𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖊𝖓𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖜𝖎𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖓 𝖞𝖔𝖚𝖗 𝖕𝖆𝖑𝖆𝖈𝖊…

I couldn’t have said it any better myself. My home had been invaded by enemies. The only home I had ever known.

She described her itching like she was healing, like a grazed palm that was healing over and driving you mad… we all knew the feeling. Even Princes skinned their knees. I knew that it had to be intense, she was covered in those blisters, but I still couldn’t stop the manic, hopeful laugh that escaped from me. “Just try not to scratch #Peony… The blood sample will tell us more.”

I tried to be realistic, she was reaching for a lesion on her arm. ‘Med Droid, please apply colloidal oat paste to Miss Lihn's affected skin.” The doctor's voice came out again.

I remember this, they used it on Father too until he lost the strength to attempt to scratch at his skin. “We have to have hope Cinder… Hope is strength, hope means there’s still fight left in us.”

And I prayed to the Stars that our hope wouldn’t shatter here tonight. ‘Your Highness… Miss Lihn.’ #DrErlund was in our ears now. ‘We’ll you join me in here for a moment please?’ I looked at Cinder. I knew that she would want to see whatever he wanted to show us as badly as she wanted to be here with her.

Like it was on cue the droid moved from swabbing a fowl-looking substance on #Peony’s arms to pulling the blankets down to her ankles. The paste looked, for all the world, like vomit but I knew from experience it smelled rather nice. “#Peony, sweetheart. We are going to go see the doctor, you can talk to us like you did before. But we’ll give you privacy while the med droids help you out with all those itches, okay? We won’t be far.”

Then I looked to #Cinder and flipped off the switch. “Would you rather stay with her? I can tell you everything if you don’t want to leave her.” I wanted to let her choose… I knew it had to be an impossible decision at such a pivotal time.

֍ Cinder ֍

𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲…

Kai was so right, if we lost all hope, we would lose this battle before the war began. Some part of me felt disheartened with little hope left when I thought there was No way for me to help #Peony, after I’d already failed #Iko. But now, everything didn’t feel lost to me.

#Iko… news I hadn’t broken to #Peony as of yet, however very soon I would need to do it, before her mother did it for us. Shaking the thoughts out of my mind… no… no... now wasn’t the time, first we needed answers! I hadn’t realised Kai had asked me a question.

“Sorry?”

Frowning as my internal processor replayed his conversation with my sister. He was so sweet and kind to her. Speaking to her as though she were a close friend. Even if part of me knew, this was Kaito... the crown prince. He would speak to everyone with kindness and respect.

“Oh…” thinking as I nod, and then shake my head. I felt divided in the choice between staying with #Peony, or to leave? My eyes move from #Peony to Kai and then back again.

“I’m coming with you. We can still talk to Pee, and if she needs me, I’ll be right here for her. But… Kai… I need to understand, to learn.. so that I can help her... and you.”

It was difficult to pull eyes away from my sister. Seeing her trying to sit up, drinking water, speaking to us. I could see the slight differences. I hoped to stars, the doctor had good news and it wasn’t just wishful thinking.

“Let’s go see whet the good doctor had to show us.” Tugging on my gloves pushing the legs of my pants down before I lifted myself up off the ground where I’d been sitting. As my eyes grew wary, of what we could be about to learn. I hadn’t considered the damage this illness could cause my sister. We were so young, so fragile.

Hope... I could feel it rising within me again as I walked over to the door Kai, and I had used to enter this room. Holding it open. “Come on Prince Kaito. Hope is still alive here with us.”

֍ Kaito ֍

Before I repeated myself… she was answering me, it was understandable that she wasn’t hearing everything that was being said. I couldn’t count the number of times I had to have #Nainsi repeats a conversation about my father to me after the fact… but this time she needed a moment to process.

I nodded, it was the answer I expected, but I would always give her the choice… it seemed like this cure was a real cure but… if these were #Peony’s last moments; she should be here. But knowing what was happening inside this little girl's body? That was life-changing for the two girls and world-altering for everyone else.

She held the door open, and I smiled at her, rising to my feet. “Let’s go see what hope has in store for us… shall we?” I stepped through the open doorway and reached back for Cinder’s hand, as though it was natural. As though it was where our hands belonged, linked together. And I lead her back through the narrow passage with only a single doorway at the other end. The light of the room beyond it was nothing like the soft soothing lighting of the visiting room. It stung my already strained eyes, too many tears had threatened today. But hopefully, the Doctor had news that would drive them away… for now.

“Is everything okay?” I asked. The doctor's gaze went right to our linked hands, but I didn’t care. These could be my last moments with the woman I had fallen in love with. I wasn’t about to waste them.

‘Take a look at the screens…’ he showed us two side-by-side screens. Showing what even I knew to be a magnified blood sample. ‘One on the right is #MissLihn’s sample from this afternoon and the Left is the sample we just took.’ #DrErlund tapped a few times on the smaller Portscreen in his hand and blue dots appeared on the screen. The left had significantly less. ‘The blue indicates the viral letumosis pathogens. As you can tell there is a pronounced difference in each sample. But watch…’

I watched… five, ten, fifteen seconds passed. A flicker on the screen and a blue dot disappeared…

“I’m not sure I understand… Are you saying it’s working?” I asked.

‘That is exactly what I am saying, Prince Kaito… and not only that… It's effective even outside of the human body, it is still eliminating the virus inside the sample independently of the human immune system.’ He announced that as thought we should understand him perfectly. The significance of this was lost on me though.

“What does that mean?” I prompted.

‘It means… If the drug maintains its current rate, I believe the #LihnPeony will no longer be afflicted with letumosis in a matter of hours. Then she will need to recover from the physical drain the disease has taken on her body.’ I almost shouted with relief, but he continued.

‘And also, that we may be able to heal those on the brink of death… if their body is strong enough to survive while the drug destroys the pathogen, the chances of recovery are significant.’

I was stunned… I couldn’t wrap my head around this… A world without letumosis? Was it possible? Was it within reach? Was my soul the only asking price?

“But Peony… she’ll survive?” It was all that managed to make it out.

֍ Cinder ֍

Yes my Princess, Miss Lihn is fighting hard. She will survive if this rate of action continues.’ #DoctorErland’s eyes drifting to me after he answered Kai’s question.

We had seen this before. We knew what this looked like. The screens before me reminded me of the results he had once shown me of my blood sample.

“Does this mean, you could use Peony’s blood and that of anyone who is cured from the disease to duplicate more, and maybe better antidotes?” My mind reeling from the fact that my baby sister would be okay.

I squeezed Kai’s hand in mine. Not ready to let go of a moment sooner than necessary. And as much as I didn’t want my thoughts to go there. I knew they had too. “How soon could we duplicate the antidote? Do we really need the help of the Luna’s to make more?” The doctor saw the pain in my eyes as I asked the question, and if I wasn’t mistaken,

he felt the same way too.

‘It’s a little too soon for us to understand the making of the antidote, Cinder. But trust me when I say. We will leave no stone unturned to find out.’

Even though no orange light blinked in my vision, I still found it hard to believe this old man cleaning his glasses in front of me now. My voice cracked as I spoke now.

“Thank you… thank you both… for trusting Peony and me with this chance. I swear… to my dying days... I will be in your debt.” I solemnly swore in that moment, I would pay these two men back somehow.

֍ Kaito ֍

I felt my knees wobble at his words. And I leaned on the nearest table ledge to keep steady. Cinder dove into all the questions that I couldn’t straighten my head out enough to ask. More dots vanished and the doctor and Cinder sounded like they were talking in another room.

I wanted to ask the doctor for more… but of course, it was too soon, it was even too soon to know for sure if this would work. But for right now all signs pointed to #Peony getting better, and that was what we needed to cling to right now.

Then the doctor spoke again my full attention came crashing back. ‘I am going to return to the labs. The med droids can handle #Peony’s care. They will draw a sample every four hours and I will be monitoring her condition remotely.’ He looked at the little girl through the screen. ‘We do not have a moment to waste working on this cure.’

Part of me wanted to protest, to say that he should be here in case something went wrong. But he couldn’t enter the room while she was still contagious. I knew he was right. I could only stall #Levana’s deal for so long while they study this cure.

But there was hope. And it was squeezing my hand… Could there be a chance? Could I give my father his dying wish and find love?

“Don’t thank us Cinder… the only person we should thank is #Peony… for being brave enough to try something so dangerous,” I said.

‘And My Prince, You should find time to rest… I heard what happened at dinner… and then this… revelation. You will need your strength and wits to deal with our visitors tomorrow.’ He dipped his chin respectfully and slipped from the room, a portscreen in hand and a droid trailing. I had a feeling it was carrying #Peony’s blood sample. I looked back to the screen. She was lying back holding her doll up above her head, smiling at it like it was the first time she had ever seen it.

She was humming… the tune of the music box I had given to Cinder. She was the most important person in the commonwealth today. I turned to Cinder and there was a rushing inside me… to tell her all of my hopes, all of my dreams… to see if she shared even one of them with me. But I swallowed it all back and with tears threatening for all the things I might not ever have and could still lose, I said. “I’m so glad your sister is going to be okay.” My voice shaking, squeezing through the tightness in my throat.

#storytime #thelunarchronicles #cinder #linhcinder #a rose from the ashes #kaito #Price Kaito #story time #au worldbuilding #AU sto

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