CHAPTER 24  

Fingers that moved. Lia gasped to check on Prince Aerus' condition. His face was still pale, with a body that looked very weak.

Refugee barracks could easily be set up because there were still quite a few nobles that could be saved. Although some of the pillars of the palace in Hexa were destroyed, there were still many buildings that could be used.

Everything was crowded and congested, full of crying and also complaints of being injured.

"Aerus!" Lia sat tensely, not blinking when she finally saw Prince Aerus slowly opening his eyes. The silver irises matched his hair, which was now starting to grow a bit longer.

Looking around, he saw the condition of the room look pathetic. Mess everywhere, a gaping hole in the corner of the room. Then his gaze stopped, fixed on his wife.

Silent, Lia did not say anything. 'Does he remember everything? Did the wound he had finally erase the memory of us?' She swallowed hard behind her veil.

Prince Aerus looked away, and snorted, making Lia's shoulders fall weakly.

'Turns out he forgot everything,' she whispered in her heart. 'No problem. Maybe it's not the time for us to be reunited. Most importantly he is awake and fine.' But suddenly he spoke, breaking the silence.

"Why are you still wearing the veil? Do you still want to hide your true identity? How cunning you are!" Prince Aerus turned his head, and gripped Lia's hand gently, seeing her widen. He approached, with sad eyes, slowly removed the veil on her face, gently brushing her cheeks. "You are so cunning!" His eyes glazed over.

Screaming, her lips trembled, wanting to say something. But she was too stunned, too in disbelief at all of this. Everything happened so fast.

"Why are you silent?" He shrieked, annoyed and weak. Suddenly he sat with grimacing lips, feeling pain all over his body. "And why have you been hiding all this time? What are you planning? Don't you miss us?"

"It's not like that, Ae..."

"So what?" he urged, then cried. It didn't last long because he could control his emotions. A tinge of purple and pink mixed into one in his eyes, which fought and exploded. He grabbed her body and hugged her very tightly. "Why are you hiding? Don't you know how much it hurts me because you left us? I thought about giving up. I was thinking about following you. I'm even like a crazy man who doesn't think about my son's fate. I'm just infatuated and in love with my wife too much."

Lia also cried, inhaling the scent of Prince Aerus' body along with her fingers gently caressing his back. "Everything is too complicated. I don't know if you'll forgive me because I can't visit you right away after I'm reborn. I had to take responsibility at Centraxus as a risk since I was allowed to live again. If I don't do it maybe my life will have to be taken again."

"Then how about at the party?" He let go of their embrace. "Why don't you immediately tell me your identity?"

"My body is still not perfect. And I thought maybe you'd hate me."

"Stupid!" he screeched, holding back his trembling voice. "Even if you live as a gust of wind, I will still see you as my wife. You will always look beautiful to me. I am confused why Mirah's energy in my body doesn't rise when I see you? It should be a sign that you are my wife."

"Maybe you can control it now," whispered Lia. "Because you thought I was dead."

"But now you're here," he lowered his head, and pressed their foreheads together, recalling the most touching moment of their lives. "You are already in front of me, approaching me."

"I'm glad we can finally be together." Lia held her breath and exhaled slowly when she felt Prince Aerus' lips touching her, embracing her with a unified tenderness, loving her with an urgent twist, embracing her with an alluring groan.

They were closed, loving each other more deeply, as a gentle brush swept across the ceiling, and as they melted their tormented longing.

But suddenly…

"O-oh!" The sound of someone breaking their kiss, made them break their grip on each other, looking down with flushed faces. It was Prince Phoko, who pretended to be wide-eyed and shocked. "I… I don't know if you guys are busy making babies. Uh… I mean… yeah, you guys can go on. I will go now. Aerus, we'll talk later. Ahem!" And he finally left, leaving Lia and prince Aerus smiling while blushing.

They looked down, playing with each other's fingers.

"You heard that?" Prince Aerus whispered stifled. "Uncle Phoko just spoke the truth."

"What do you mean?" Lia cleared her throat, a little confused.

"Making a baby." He looked away, holding back a smile. "Why don't we give Bealdric a new brother or sister? He…. He must be feeling lonely. Ahem."

"D-do you think so?" A swish of blood pumped all over Lia's body.

"Yeah. What do you think?" Prince Aerus looked up, biting his lower lip and forgetting the pain all over his body.

"Not a bad idea. But this is not the right time."

"I know." He sounded disappointed. "But it's fine if I have my wife in my way, right?"

"Of course!" She nodded, feeling him kiss her again, gently supporting her face while ruffling her exquisite hair. The air seemed to swirl around them, giving off a very warm air. The peak of the blood swish, and also the deep gaze of the thunderous rage of longing.

They almost fell into the longing, until something interrupted them again, making them gulp with their faces down.

Two bodyguards cleared their throats, carrying the whining Prince Bealdric. "W-we are just escorting Prince Bealdric, Your Majesty. We don't know… we…"

"You may go," whispered Prince Aerus, along with his son who was now sitting between them, looking into their eyes with his very large eyeballs.

With an innocent face, he asked, "Are you guys planning to give me a little sibling? Grandpa Phoko said I should ask you guys, Mother, Father."

Prince Aerus clenched his fists, cursing in his heart, 'Uncle Phoko!'

***