"The stars here are very different from Gomorra," Princess Xynalia said in nostalgia.
"Are you feeling homesick?" Thirteen inquired.
"Yes," Princess Xynalia replied. "It’s a good thing my Aunt is here. If it were only me and my sister leading our faction, I might not know where to start."
Thirteen kept his gaze on the stars, as if recalling the countless starry skies in his memories that were similar yet vastly different from each other.
He’d been to many worlds and met many Hosts, which had touched him in more ways than one.
The silence descended upon the two of them for a few minutes before Princess Xynalia spoke first.
"Zion, everything I saw in that dream is real, right?" Princess Xynalia asked.
"There were a few slight differences, but most of them remained the same," Thirteen answered.
"Then... Kate really got pregnant with your child?"
A moment later, the teenage boy felt a pair of arms wrap themselves around his body as Princess Xynalia hugged him from behind.
"Do you still think of her?" Princess Xynalia inquired. "Kate, I mean."
"Ever since I regained my memory of her, I can’t help but think of her," Thirteen answered. "Especially when I find myself alone and with nothing to do. I’m trying to keep myself as busy as possible for that reason. I’m better off thinking less about what happened in the past."
"Do you regret regaining your memory of her?"
"No. I’d regret it more if I didn’t remember her."
Princess Xynalia hugged him a little bit tighter. "If the pain becomes too much to bear, come to me. I’ll help ease your pain."
If anyone had said these words to him, Thirteen might have ignored them.
But Princess Xynalia was different.
Although what happened in the dream was a little different from what happened in reality, the succubus princess and Kate had shared a connection in that dream.
She shared their pain and their secrets, as well as the promise that he had left behind.
Aside from Tiona and maybe Shana, she was one of the few who knew who Thirteen really was.
In the past, he lacked emotions, and when he finally learned what it was, one of the first things he felt was anger.
Anger that almost consumed his entire being after Kate and his unborn child died due to the whims of Fate.
The reason he rebelled against his Father, the System God, as well as the Goddess of Fate, whom he wished to defeat no matter what.
From the start, he understood it was a hopeless battle. But he still fought against his father, knowing what awaited him.
He was fine with dying, believing he no longer had any reason to live.
He was tired, battered, and broken.
He was no longer the System that he used to be.
"I know my Aunt proposed that we become engaged with each other," Princess Xynalia said softly. "I also know that you don’t love me. But, is it still okay for the two of us to be together?"
"Your Aunt is pushing for this union for political reasons," Thirteen replied. "And you want to be with me for reasons that only you understand."
"Then what about you?" Princess Xynalia asked. "How do you feel about me?" Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⚑𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥
Thirteen slowly raised his hand and clenched his fist. He then raised his pinky finger and looked at the colorful threads that fluttered in the breeze, one of them connected to Princess Xynalia’s pinky finger.
The color of that thread was purple, and in the darkness of the night, it was barely visible. But it was there, making its presence known.
"Do you believe in Fate?" Thirteen asked.
"Princess Aracelle told me that you hate that word," Princess Xynalia replied. "But I will be honest with you. I do believe in Fate."
"She exists," Thirteen answered. "And many believe that there is no free will because no matter what you do in life, you will still end up on the path that she has made for you. Regardless of the choices you make in your lifetime."
Princess Xynalia didn’t say anything because she felt that Zion was not finished just yet. She simply waited for him to continue what he wanted to say.
"I don’t know what game she is playing," Thirteen stated. "But I will beat her in her own game."
The teenage boy then turned around to face Princess Xynalia and looked at her straight in the eye.
"And perhaps, you will play a role in this battle of mine," Thirteen said sadly. "It might sound cruel, but I intend to use everything in my arsenal to win. This includes my lovers. Are you sure you want to be with someone like me, who will use even his own life for vengeance?
"You can still go back, Xynalia. You can still let go. I will not force you. In fact, I will even make sure that the Velmoria Royal Family will thrive here in Pangea even if we don’t end up together."
"I want to be with you," Princess Xynalia replied. "Even if we are parted by realms. Even if centuries pass, and lifetimes are reborn, this bond we have today, I will hold dear in my heart. Do you know why?
"Because I know that if you chose me to be your lover, even if I forget, you alone will not forget.
"You will come to find me, wherever I am. You will fight for me, even if I’m not aware of it. And... you will continue to love me, even if we are far apart."
The faint purple thread that connected their fingers wrapped itself around their bodies as if making sure that their hearts would reach each other.
"I’m a little dense, Xynalia," Thirteen stated. "I now know a little about human emotions, but I still have much to learn. There will be times when I might hurt you... There will be times when you might cry because of me.
"There might even come a time when you will regret your decision to become my lover. Are you prepared to teach me the things I still don’t know about?"
"Yes," Princess Xynalia answered firmly.
Her words didn’t have any ounce of hesitation, as if she had been waiting for this moment for many years.
In fact, she had waited that long in Thirteen’s dream, and now, she wanted nothing more than to be with him.
The Succubus Princess planted a kiss on Thirteen’s forehead before kissing his lips.
The kiss was soft, fleeting, and yet it contained the feelings that were overflowing in her heart.
"Just like Kate, I want to have your baby," Princess Xynalia said. "Maybe not now, but in the future, please make sure to get me pregnant, okay?"
"Just don’t get pregnant before Erica and Shana do." Thirteen smiled faintly. "I’m afraid that I’ll receive an earful from them if you get pregnant before them."
"If that will keep the family happy, then I’ll keep things in moderation." Princess Xynalia smiled faintly. "So, when you finish your fight with Fate and your Father, make sure to focus your attention on us, okay?"
"Mmm." Thirteen nodded. "I like the sound of that."
Under the starry skies, Princess Xynalia and Thirteen exchanged a few more kisses, the purple thread binding them glowing faintly in the darkness.