The Moon Palace glittered like a dream sculpted from silver and deceit.
By day, it looked holy — marble corridors bathed in soft light, walls carved with moon sigils, fountains whispering in endless song.
By night, it turned into something else entirely — quiet, watchful, alive.
Liora had walked these halls before, in another lifetime.
She'd worn silk gowns and jewels, and everyone had bowed to her as Princess Consort Valen.
But now she walked in plain healer's robes, head lowered, her name erased from history.
The court called her Elara, and she intended to keep it that way.
🌙 Morning in the Palace
The next morning, she was summoned to the royal garden pavilion, where courtiers gathered under the Empress's watchful eye.
Kael walked beside her, dressed once again in silver armor and black robes, looking every bit the prince he was born to be — and the man who had once betrayed her.
Liora's gaze swept the garden. Servants carried trays of nectar and fruit, nobles whispered behind their fans, and at the center, the Empress Seraphine sat poised like a queen carved from moonstone.
Beside her stood her chief attendant — Lady Mirelle, whose beauty was only matched by her venomous smile.
"The royal court gathers to welcome our Crown Prince's recovery," Mirelle announced, her tone sweet and cold. "And to honor the healer who saved him."
Polite applause followed. Every eye turned toward Liora.
She bowed slightly, her heart pounding.
"Rise, child," the Empress said softly. "You have served our empire well. The gods must favor you."
Liora forced a smile. "I only did my duty, Your Majesty."
The Empress studied her carefully, then looked toward Kael.
"My son, it pleases me to see you alive. Yet you owe the gods an explanation. They say your convoy was attacked beyond our borders. Who dared touch the bloodline of Ardent?"
Kael's eyes hardened. "It was no ordinary ambush. The attackers wore the crest of the Crimson Order."
A murmur rippled through the court. The Crimson Order — a rogue sect of moon-worshippers long banned by the crown.
Liora's pulse quickened. The Crimson Order… they were part of the curse.
"They vanished after your… incident," the Empress said, her gaze unreadable. "Perhaps they have returned."
Kael's tone was sharp. "If they seek me again, I'll be ready this time."
Liora could feel the tension coiling around them like smoke. Every noble here wore a smile that didn't reach their eyes. Every word spoken was half a lie.
🕊️ The Healer Among Serpents
After the council dispersed, Liora moved through the gardens, feeling the weight of a hundred gazes.
Whispers followed her wherever she went.
"She's too young to be a healer."
"They say her eyes glow under the moon."
"Maybe the prince brought back a witch…"
She ignored them, but each whisper felt like a needle in her skin.
At the edge of the garden, she found a quiet pond — the same place she used to sit as Princess Liora Valen, sketching moon lilies for Kael before their marriage.
How strange that time could erase her name but not the ache in her heart.
"You shouldn't wander alone here," came a voice from behind her.
She turned sharply. It was Riven, Kael's commander — and the man who had once been her sworn knight in her first life.
He looked almost the same: strong, broad-shouldered, with dark eyes that always carried a hint of sadness.
"Commander Riven," she greeted politely. "I was only taking air."
"Air can be poisonous here," he replied dryly. "The nobles bite with smiles."
A faint smile touched her lips. "Then perhaps I'll wear thicker armor."
He studied her for a moment longer, his brow furrowing. "Strange… you remind me of someone."
Her breath caught. "Someone?"
"Someone I swore to protect," he said quietly. "But she died long ago."
Their eyes met — and for a heartbeat, Liora thought she saw flickers of recognition in his gaze.
But then he bowed and turned away. "Be careful, Healer. The court hides knives behind every compliment."
🌕 A Gift from the Empress
That evening, a servant arrived at her quarters carrying a velvet box sealed with the Empress's crest.
"Her Majesty sends this token of appreciation," the servant said before leaving.
Liora hesitated, then slowly opened it.
Inside lay a silver pendant, shaped like a crescent moon entwined with a serpent.
The same emblem used by the Crimson Order.
Her fingers went cold.
There was a small note folded beneath it, written in the Empress's delicate hand:
"Welcome home, my Moon Bride. —S."
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She knows.
The air thickened, the shadows lengthened. For a second, the pendant shimmered — and she saw a reflection in the polished metal: her face, her crown, her death.
Then, as if mocking her, the moonlight through the window turned blood-red.
💀 The Dream Beneath the Moon
That night, she dreamt again.
She stood barefoot in a vast field under the crimson moon.
The air smelled of smoke and ashes.
Ahead of her stood Kael, dressed in black armor, his sword stained in blood — her blood.
"Why?" she whispered.
His voice echoed like thunder. "Because it was the only way to save you."
"You killed me!"
"No… I freed you."
He raised his sword again — but when it came down, the blade split in two, and the ground cracked open beneath her feet.
A shadow rose from the earth — a woman cloaked in silver flame, her voice the same one that haunted her dreams.
"You cannot run from what you are, Liora Valen. You are the Moon Bride. The curse is eternal."
The moon above bled brighter, dripping like liquid fire.
She screamed — and woke up gasping, drenched in sweat.
The pendant on her table pulsed faintly with light, and a single whisper filled the room:
"The court will feast on your soul before the next moon rises…"