The world around me felt like it was closing in. My heart raced as I tried to understand what was happening. I couldn't move. I couldn't even think properly. I was frozen in place, my body shaking uncontrollably, and my breath came in ragged gasps. I could feel a tear threatening to fall, but it wasn't from sadness—it was from confusion, from the overwhelming sense of helplessness.
"Who... who are you?" My voice was barely a whisper, struggling to break free. My eyes searched the room, darting between the figures who surrounded me, trying to make sense of their intentions. Why were they here? What did they want from me? A part of me couldn't shake the nagging fear that they might be after my family.
My family. The Li family, one of the wealthiest and most influential in the world of fashion. But even with such power, we had enemies lurking in the shadows, enemies who could strike at any moment. Was this their doing? Was my family in danger? My thoughts raced, but none of it made sense.
The old man standing in front of me moved his hands. There was a strange glow to his movements, a faint light that seemed to pulse as his hands shifted. As he turned to the men behind him, they silently filed out of the room, leaving us alone.
"My lady, please," the old man said with a deep, calm voice, "calm down. I am Gu Xun. I apologize for my recklessness. I used a small calming spell to soothe your nerves. Please forgive me."
The words seemed to reach me, but my mind was still foggy, still struggling to grasp the situation. I looked up at Mr. Gu, his eyes full of sincerity, but all I could manage was a shallow breath. "So that's why I feel... relieved," I muttered, my mind trying to make sense of his explanation. "But... what's going on? Mr. Gu, please, tell me. What is all this?"
Mr. Gu cleared his throat before speaking again. "My lady, we have waited for your return for a long time. Allow me to explain everything. It is a tale that spans millennia, one of sacrifice, duty, and love."
I listened intently as Mr. Gu's voice took on a deeper, more reverent tone. "A thousand years ago, you were not just a woman of wealth and grace, but the Moon Realm's representative—its peacekeeper. Your family's role was to ensure that the two kingdoms, the Sun Kingdom and the Moon Kingdom, never went to war. You and your ancestors stood in the middle, seeking to uphold the truth, never siding with one kingdom over the other."
I tried to process his words, but they seemed almost impossible to believe. My life had always been one of luxury, fame, and superficial politics. How could I have been a part of something so grand, so important?
But Mr. Gu continued, "In time, you, my lady, became more than just a peacekeeper. You and the Moon King, the ruler of our kingdom, grew close, and your bond deepened. It was love, pure and undeniable. But the Sun King, seeing your connection to the Moon King, sought to claim you for himself. Even knowing you and the Moon King were in love, he did not relent."
My heart raced as I absorbed his words. The Sun King... Had he truly wanted me? To marry me, despite my love for the Moon King?
Mr. Gu's voice grew heavy with emotion as he recounted the tale. "The Sun King proposed to you, offering a lifetime of peace and friendship between the two kingdoms. But if you refused, he swore he would never let the Moon Kingdom live in peace. His jealousy and greed were too much to ignore. Despite his offer, you refused, for your heart belonged to the Moon King."
I could feel the weight of those words, the sacrifice of love, the tension between two great powers. "So... I married the Moon King?" I whispered, barely able to breathe.
Mr. Gu nodded gravely. "Yes, my lady. As soon as you were wed, you became the Moon Queen. And the Sun King's wrath followed soon after. He declared war on us, determined to destroy the Moon Kingdom and claim everything for himself. The peacekeepers from both sides tried to reason with him, but his heart was already consumed by greed."
I trembled, the weight of history crashing down on me. I had never imagined that my life could have been part of something so monumental, so tragic. I had only ever known comfort, never the burden of such a legacy.
"The Moon Kingdom did not wish for war," Mr. Gu continued. "The Moon King's grandfather, a wise and powerful ruler, created a powerful core—an artifact of unimaginable power—to prevent the war. The core was meant to help us harness magic and protect our kingdom. Your beloved, the Moon King, entrusted you with half of this core, sending you to another world to save you from the chaos."
I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest. "Another world?" I repeated, the shock and confusion still clear in my voice. "But... how? Why?"
Mr. Gu's eyes softened, as if remembering the great sacrifice that had been made. "The Moon King and your beloved sacrificed themselves to fulfill the power of the core. They split the two kingdoms, casting the Sun Kingdom and the Moon Kingdom into separate worlds, ensuring that no more innocent lives would be lost. Your beloved was a hero—a god-like figure in our eyes."
I swallowed hard. I could barely comprehend the enormity of what he was telling me. The Moon King and the Sun King... two powerful rulers, torn apart by love, war, and sacrifice. And I, in the middle of it all, a figure caught between their world-changing decisions.
"The dragons," Mr. Gu continued, his voice grave. "The creatures from the Sun Kingdom, they have begun to stir. They seek vengeance for their fallen kingdom, and they threaten to destroy ours."
I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. The dragons were real. And they were coming for us.
Mr. Gu leaned closer, his face filled with urgency. "We must act now, my lady. The time has come for you to return to your role as the Moon Queen. The fate of both kingdoms rests in your hands."
A storm of emotions raged inside me—fear, guilt, disbelief. I had never wanted this. I had never asked for it. How could I save an entire world when I could barely save myself?
"Mr. Gu," I said, my voice barely audible. "I... I don't know if I can do this. I've lived my life thinking I was just... a normal person. Now you're telling me I'm a queen, a part of a history I don't understand."
His gaze softened, full of compassion. "You are not alone, my lady. The world may be heavy, but you will have allies. Together, we will fight to restore peace."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I faced the overwhelming weight of my destiny. Could I truly save this world? Could I become the queen they believed I was meant to be?
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