"The dawn may fade, but night endures."
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Night turns to me, his eyes widening slightly before a warm smile lights up his face.
'Welcome,' he says kindly. 'What can I do for you, little one?'
'…Is someone called Nox here…?' I ask quietly, my head down.
'Yes. Let me take you to him.'
'Thank you…'
I follow him to a back room with a lounge and desk. Looking around, the room is beautiful, from the Jarrah wood to the glass decorations. There is a faint smell of lavender in the air, but no flowers around. The atmosphere is very calming and soothing, making me feel rather relaxed and at home.
'So, young lady,' Night starts. 'Why would you like to see Nox for?'
'…Is Nox here?' I ask.
'I'm Nox.'
Night is Nox? How? Who is he really?
I take my hood off, my midnight blue eyes visible. His eyes widen.
'Adira,' he breathes.
'How do you know my name?' I ask.
'Because I knew your mother.'
The room grows sombre. Mamma had just been laid to rest, and the pain is still fresh.
'…How did you know Mamma?'
'I grew up with her.'
'Really?' I ask.
'Yes. Did she say anything about me?'
I shake my head.
'She never mentioned you.'
'Then how do you know me?'
'Because I read the last letter you sent. You said Mamma was in danger!'
Nox looks sad.
'But I was too late in warning her. How did you get here?'
'I just walked around. Mamma mentioned something about a tavern, so I wanted to see if this was the tavern she was talking about.'
'Well, you're clever, aren't you?'
I look down at my hands
'How did you know?' I ask quietly.
'Know what?'
'How did you know Mamma was in danger?' I ask more urgently as I look at him.
'Why don't you sit down first?' He asks kindly, gesturing to the sofa behind me.
Fiddling with my fingers, I sit.
'First of all, you need to know that your mother loved you very much.'
'Of course I know that,' I huff.
'You said your mother never mentioned me, correct?'
I nod.
'Well, I am your uncle.'
'My uncle?' I ask, confused. 'Mamma was an only child!'
'No. She's the eldest of three children. Your mother, Cardinia, our second sister, Twila, and me, the youngest, Nox.'
'Why didn't Mamma say anything?'
'Because she was protecting us all. If anyone in the royal family knew about us, we'd be killed in the struggle for the throne.'
'Why? Mamma only had me.'
'Because your mother was still young. She could still have more children, and back then, she had the King's interest.'
'But she didn't later!'
'Doesn't matter. She already lied, and that's a crime all on its own.'
'It's not fair,' I pout.
'It's better that way.'
'Why?'
'Because we wouldn't have been able to continue managing this information network.'
'Information network?'
'Let me tell you a story,' he says, his eyes glazing over as he reminisces about the past.
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'Milly, how's it going?'
I bow to Her Majesty.
'The Servant Network has been fully established, Your Majesty.'
'Very good,' Queen Arabella murmurs.
'You must assess my heir after I'm gone. He must not know about the Network until he's proven himself.'
'Of course, Your Majesty.'
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I listen with curiosity.
'So this Milly was the start of a network? What kind of network was it? Who is Milly?'
'Milly is our ancestor. She was under the rule of Queen Arabella and started Oceania's information network using Servants.'
'That's so cool!'
'Yes.'
'So, what happened?'
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'Hurry! Help the children escape!' I cry out to my son.
'Where are you going, Mamma?'
'I need to find any remaining survivors. Hurry! Go!'
I push him towards the hidden exit, looking behind me to make sure no one saw us.
'But Mamma! It's dangerous!'
'I know, Casey, but I need to make sure everyone got out, and you need to protect your wife.'
'You'll be alright, right, Mamma?' Tears fill my eyes.
'I'll be fine, my son.'
I rest my forehead on his for a moment, closing my eyes, before releasing him.
'Goodbye for now, Casey.'
And with that, I shut the door to the exit.
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I gasp, horrified.
'What happened? Why are they running?'
'You should know the history.'
'King Hadrien.'
'That's right.'
'So why did she stay?'
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'Waaahhh!'
A baby crying? No. I can't stop. I must destroy these!
One.
Two.
Three.
Into the fire. I need to hurry!
'Waaaahhhhh!'
Damn it! The baby's going to alert them!
Where is it?
Looking around, I finally see the baby swaddled in fine cloth. I quickly pick it up.
'Sshhh! Hush, sweet,' I whisper, rocking the baby.
It quiets down, gazing at me with hazel eyes.
'I won't leave you, so rest now.'
As I rock it, I watch the fire eat the papers I placed in it bit by bit.
Good.
We'll be safe now.
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'What was she burning?' I ask, feeling confused.
'She was burning our beginning. Queen Arabella had documents made so that the Network could operate with Royal Authority. But with Queen Arabella gone, and King Hadrien in power, having that Authority would've been detrimental to us. He would've found out quickly, so she had to burn everything about us in the palace.'
'That way, you can stay in the shadows after King Hadrien's killing spree…'
'Exactly.'
'So what happens next?'
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'Mamma!'
'Casey! You're alright! How's Evelyn?'
'Evelyn's fine, and so is the baby.'
'Did she give birth already?'
'No, but it's not long now.'
'Waaaahhhhh!'
'What's that, Mamma?'
I show Casey the baby.
'I found him near Queen Arabella's former quarters.'
'Who is he?'
'I think he's Marquis Dylan's youngest child.'
'King Hadrien's brother?'
'Yes.'
'But that's dangerous!'
'I know, but I couldn't leave him there. We'll raise him.'
'But who? We can barely take care of ourselves!'
'They won't find out he's royalty. He doesn't have the eyes.'
'…Fine…' Casey sighs, running a hand through his hair, his eyebrows scrunched up in a frown.
'But you're caring for him, Mamma. It's dangerous enough with a newborn on its way. We really can't take care of two.'
'That's fine. I raised you, after all.'
'What're you going to name him?'
'Let's call him Leo.'
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'So the baby was royalty?' I gasp in surprise.
'Yes. King Hadrien's nephew.'
'It's good he survived, but he no longer has a family now.'
'Yes, but he also lived a carefree life.'
'So what happens to them?'
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'Do you, Leo Winter, take Catherine Woods to be your lawfully wedded wife?'
'I do.'
'And do you, Catherine Woods, take Leo Winter to be your lawfully wedded husband?'
'I do.'
'Now, please say your vows. Leo?'
'I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, Leo Winter, take you, Catherine Woods, to be my lawfully wedded wife.'
'Now, Catherine?'
'I call upon the persons here present to witness that I, Catherine Woods, take you, Leo Winter, to be my lawfully wedded husband.'
'It is time to exchange rings. Ring-bearer, please?'
I watch as Leo takes the ring.
'With this ring, I give you my promise of love and commitment.'
'With this ring, I give you my promise of love and commitment.'
Catherine smiles up at him.
'By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss the bride.'
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'Wait, wait, wait. So, who's Catherine?'
'Casey's daughter.'
'The one Evelyn was pregnant with?'
'Exactly.'
'So, Leo became my ancestor too?'
'Yes.'
'I have royal blood on both sides of the family?'
'Yes.'
The shock left me silent, my eyes wide. Both sides of the family are descended from Queen Arabella! Why did Mamma not tell me? What does that say about me? Am I even allowed to be alive? I'm living proof of the same bloodline merging into one again.
'But then why am I alive? Mamma should've known about this, right?'
'Yes, your mother knew. Over the past three centuries, the Servant Network has grown, and connected with the other Servant Networks in the other Kingdoms. We are now an enormous web of information all around the world. And that's why I said your mother did love you.'
'What do you mean by that?' I ask, still confused.
'Well….'
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'Cardinia! Where are you going?'
I watch as Cardinia packs her bags, pulling clothes out as she puts them in.
'To Canberra.'
'Why?'
'So I can marry Hori.'
'Do you really love him?'
'Of course, I do, but it's not just because I love him. I want to carry his heir.'
'And if it's a girl?'
'I'll raise her like a normal princess.'
'What of her heritage? The Servant Network?'
'The Network has you and Twila to take care of it. And if my baby is a princess, she doesn't need to learn about this heritage.'
'So, you're just going to drop everything for this King? He already has four wives!'
'And he loves me.'
'He told you that?'
'Yes. What do you want from me, Nox?'
Cardinia stops packing, glaring at me angrily.
'I just don't want you to get hurt.'
'If you need anything, or if I need you, I'll let you know.'
'It'll be dangerous. Especially if they find out who you are.'
'I know that, but I don't care.'
She stares me dead in the eye.
'This is our chance, Nox! Our chance to bring The Network bloodline into the current royal bloodline!'
'Are you sure you want your marriage to be like this?'
'Yes.'
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'…Mamma wanted me to be airheaded?' I ask quietly. No wonder Uncle Nox didn't tell me anything in my past life.
'That didn't mean she loved you any less.'
'But I wasn't what she wanted!' I cry in anguish. 'I wasn't the prince she was needing!'
'But she trained you anyway.'
'Why?'
'Because you awakened your ice magic on your own.'
'So because I could use my magic, I became useful?' I ask, bitterly.
'No, that's not it, Adira. She loved you with all her heart. She just wanted you to stay safe. If your magic ran wild, you'd hurt yourself, or even worse, die. You were everything to her!'
'She has a funny way of showing it….'
'I know you have a lot of questions, and I know you need time to process. Do you want to meet again another day?'
I shake my head.
'No. I want to know more.'
'Like what?'
'Who's Twila? And what's her role? Why are you here in Canberra?'
'Well, Twila is our second sister. She runs The Servant Network in Brisbane, our original headquarters. I came here to be closer to Cardinia and run the Canberra branch.'
'Why not Twila?'
'Because Twila looks too much like your mother.'
'Do I have any other family?'
'Of course. You have cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.'
'Really? Will I get to meet them?' I ask excitedly.
'Sure. If you ever go to Brisbane or the other major cities. We're scattered all over Oceania.'
'That's cool,' I murmur as I slump back into the chair, curling up.
'I miss Mamma…'
Nox hugs me.
'I know, sweetie. I know. I miss her too.'
A sob escapes my mouth as I cry on his shoulder.