6. Living proof

Monarki Young.

That was the name given to her by her father.

"Monarki. I gave you that name, so you will live a life like a royal."

Those are his words. At a young age, everything was served to her. Being the youngest 'princess' in her family, she was always the center of their affection. A loving older sister who never complained whenever Mona took her toys. A father who always doted on her and a mother who was always so proud of the simple things she did.

She was loved. Even when she failed an exam, she was scolded but never grounded or neglected. They gave whatever she needed, even if some were just her whims and wants. She was spoiled but she was raised well and right.

Mona believed she could live up to her name.

Until her father had an accident and died even before she graduated from high school. Her mother shouldered everything, from her sister's college fees to their daily needs and bills.

She witnessed how her mother, as a nurse, worked overtime and took twice her duties so she no longer had time to rest. So, Mona, who couldn't bear to see her mother like that, promised to give her a life of royalty.

She will build her own monarch so her mom and sister can live a regal life. She studied hard and took scholarship opportunities, she took a part-time job as a mathematics tutor in grade school while she was in high school. When she got to college, she had two part-time jobs, even when her sister had already started earning an income.

After she graduated, she kept looking for a stable job. But unfortunately, as if fate was mocking her, she couldn't get hired by all the companies she applied to. This occurrence wore her out. And perhaps, slowly, all the stress she set aside and the rejections she had, came crushing down on her.

Mona stopped searching for a job. She just went home and stayed. A week passed she just kept watching television and reading books. Then a week became a month, a year, and before she knew it, it became two years.

Her mom and sister never nagged at her for being lethargic. They never pushed her to do this or become like this. Mona never heard them complain about her being unemployed and unhelpful.

Even after many years passed, she was still treated as their youngest 'princess'. Their beloved and young Monarki.

She was loved even though she became useless.

An affection that her landlady never had, even though she was so kind and helpful.

All because she was born with darkness.

Everything about her was deemed evil. And now the only record that proves her existence in this world is being forgotten that easily.

Mona wanted that proof to live longer. At least until it was no longer considered a misfortune to even speak of it.

She wanted her landlady to not be forgotten.

"My name is Luna Evangeline."

The eyes of everyone in the room settled on her. They were confused by her answer.

"He is asking for your name. Not the owner of the body." The other priest beside the man who questioned Mona, answered.

"And I am telling you my name." She responded while smiling at them.

As if knowing that she was provoking them, the Grand Duke interrupted.

"What is the reason why you do not wish to tell us your real name?" He asked, but not even the least bit of curiosity could be seen on his stony face.

Mona scoffed and answered. "And what's the reason why you do not believe my answer?"

The Grand Duke glared at her.

"The ball showed us the answer." The blonde lady said.

Mona looked over at the one who spoke. Bright green eyes met her black ones. The woman's eyes looked gentle and calm like it never showed contempt or terror once. It was as if one would feel at peace under her gaze, but Mona was not affected by that tranquil feeling.

Instead, she was holding back her rage and disdain towards them.

"I asked earlier if this ball was used on Luna and he said that was not even necessary," Mona replied pointing at the man behind the woman. "Is it because Luna possesses dark power? That there was no need to check if she was evil?"

Mona felt that she was really going to shout, so she inhaled deeply and calmed herself.

She didn't forget that she was in the presence of the king of that palace. But even so, she no longer thinks about what would happen to her if she snapped at them.

"As mentioned earlier, the ball determines the core's nature." The king exclaimed.

"I got that." She answered impolitely.

"Watch your manners, woman. You are in the presence of His Majesty." The man behind the Grand Duke, the one looking like a knight, spoke for the first time.

"I have no king." Bravely answered the man, she continued speaking without minding the knights' malicious glances at her. "It was mentioned earlier as well, that the soul is the core of mana, and mana defines the nature of the soul. I admit that I am another soul occupying this body. But why did I produce a white color earlier?"

"It's possible as long as you have a soul. It only means your soul has divine mana." The blonde lady answered.

"That's bullshit."

"Watch your language, child! You are speaking to Her Holiness, the Great Saintess!" This time, the man behind the blonde lady reprimanded her.

'So, she's a Saintess.' Mona thought.

"I only said the truth. I get that mana or whatever exists here, but there's no such thing as that in the place I came from!" She defended.

"Why? Which part of the world are you from? In what country? Who is your king then?" The king questioned her with utmost curiosity.

"I don't have a king; I live in a republic country. And even if I told you which country I came from, I doubt you'll find it on the map. And lastly, magic does not exist there. I came from a completely different world."

Her last words shocked the people around her.

"My soul came from a world where none of these things exist, so why does the ball detect mana on me? Does the mana's core really define a person in this world?" She continued speaking. She bowed her head and clenched her fist. "Darkness is black and scary, but does it really also signify evil?"

She remembered the face of her landlady inside the dungeon, murmuring repeatedly to herself how exhausted she was.

Mona remembered herself hiding in her room completely engulfed in darkness, because she was more comfortable with it.

So, she quietly murmured.

"It can also mean cold and loneliness."

Deep inside her, she hoped that her words would reach them. That her argument can make sense.

The white-haired man was already in silence when Mona asked about the possibility of the ball being used by her landlady as well. His face which once exuded gentleness was now void of emotion. His eyes tracing the whirlpools of brownish smoke inside the crystal ball seem to be seeing other things instead.

The Saintess beside him was speechless as well. She couldn't deny that the woman inside the body of the noble lady had a point. If her soul truly belongs to another world where mana does not exist, how is it possible that the crystal can be used?

"Long, long, time ago," The Saintess was a bit surprised when the second highest priest beside her suddenly began to speak. "That crystal was created to find the child of God. It was recorded that back then; the only proof of identity was when the crystal ball shines a golden color. But nobody gave off such a color, the only colors it shows are white and black."

Although Mona was surprised by the sudden speech of the man who became silent not long ago, she still listened and asked.

"If divinity makes whitish color, why was the child of God golden? Is he not divine?"

The man glanced at her. "Of course, he is. But I guess you might be right, my lady. No one has ever questioned the true use of this ball because nobody can explain it since it was been thousand years ago. Records may differ through time." He stood up and approached Mona.

Which took Mona aback. And unconsciously, she moved closer to the Grand Duke.

"I won't do you no harm, lady. I see truth in your words. So, I only ask you to speak the truth as well." The second highest priest's gentle smile and tender eyes came back.

If the man already admitted that he could see through her words, Mona thought there was no reason to lie. So, she nodded.

"Then, please tell me, have you ever harmed another or committed an inhumane crime in your life in the world you came from?"