Chapter 413: What Do You Miss?

King Wilhelm;

There is a reason the observatory is my favourite place in the whole of Beast Heaven. I am hardly fascinated by spaces, but this place... stands out to me. Everytime. Maybe it’s because it was the first place I ever saw Serenia truly laugh.

It was the first time she wasn’t the girl being made to marry me, so I could save Nagari.

She spoke to me, void of unnecessary formalities, as she explained her love for the stars to me.

I remember staring into those blue eyes and seeing for the first time ever, galaxies in the eyes of a person.

She’s the reason I look at stars differently today. Unlike every other place in BeastHeaven, the stars do not care who sits on a throne.

They do not care about kingdoms, or wars... Or titles.

They simply exist. No matter how hard, or rough... or brutal a day is... they still come out. They still twinkle proudly.

Tonight, the mass glass dome above me gives a view of a night sky littered with countless stars, and I find myself staring at them as I have done many times throughout my life here.

Some nights, they remind me how small my problems are.

But tonight... They only remind me of how many problems I have.

A sigh escapes me, and just then, I hear the massive creek open behind me.

I turn around on instinct, and across the orange lit roon, I see his tiny, round face pop in from behind the door.

I can’t help the smile that split my face as I think of how much weight he’s gained.

He wriggles his way past the heavy door and just stands beside it with curious little eyes.

How can he be pregnant and still be so...childlike?

So fragile and small. He reminds me of what it felt like to be a father to little boys.

One of his hands is resting on his already protruding stomach. His black hair catches the chandelier light, and he tilts his head curiously as he looks at me, which earns a little huff from me.

When we first met, he was scared of me. Now, he’s started hunting me down in the middle of the night?

"Am I safe?" I break the silence, and he gives me a small smile as he waddles across the room, over to me.

"As if anything could ever put you in danger." He replies, and the innocent statement causes my smile to falter. But he doesn’t notice.

He stands beside me and looks up at the sky. I follow his gaze, and in that moment, a shooting star darts across the sky. Beside me, he shuts his eyes, and I watch his hands drift to his stomach.

I wonder what his wish is.

Normally, this would be the point where he starts talking about anything and everything.

About stars, what I’m doing here—One question becomes five, and five becomes twenty.

But now, he’s not doing that. Of late, the chatterbox has grown rather silent.

I have noticed it because I thrive in silence. Chatterboxes don’t just flip their conversation switches. That’s not how it works. That only happens if something triggered them.

I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy. To be honest, I think I should be worried. We should all be.

Something is going on in his head, and for the first time, he hasn’t let anyone in on it.

It makes me wonder just how much Asa’s death affected him. How much everything has affected him.

He is still Elián. Still kind, still curious, and impossibly expressive.

But there is a heaviness around him now. A sadness. The sort that lingers long after even tears have abandoned you.

"Elián," I call softly, and his gaze shifts to me.

"Come sit," I say, and to my surprise, he obeys immediately.

He simply walks over and settles on the circular bench beneath the massive celestial map hanging in the centre of the observatory.

I sit beside him, and silence consumes the space. I close my eyes for a moment, and a small smile splits my face at the peace in the moment.

My ear focuses on the crackling of the torches, and my nose focuses on the clear, soft breeze in the room.

My shoulders relax, and just as I begin to lose myself in that calmness, Elian speaks.

"What do you miss most about Earth?" I pause, slowly open my eyes, and turn to him.

Since I told him that I’m from Earth as well, we haven’t had a proper conversation about it.

We didn’t get the chance to. I knew he’d be curious, but I didn’t think this was how he would bring up the conversation.

Straight for the throat.

His eyes remain fixed on the stars. Waiting for my reply, and a small smile splits my face. He must miss his family. I wonder how he copes without them. It’s been months. A few more, and he’d have spent a whole year with us.

I lean back slightly. Thinking, as I also return my gaze to the stars.

Because after all these years... After all this time...You’d think the answer would be difficult.

But it’s not. It’s never been. Of all the things I could possibly miss in the world. What I miss most—

"My daughters," I whisper softly, and from the corner of my eyes, I see Elian’s head whip toward me so quickly, I fear for his neck.

I turn to him, and the surprise on his face is so raw that it makes me huff a small laugh.

"You had children?" He demands, and the disbelief in his voice is almost offensive.

"You make it sound as though I’m incapable of reproducing," I say flatly, and his eyes widen.

"Th-that’s not what I meant."

"It certainly sounded like it," I note, and he groans as he buries his face in his hands.

"I walked into that one." He groans, and I smile yet again.

"Very much so."

A reluctant smile appears on his face as he looks up at me, and it makes my smile grow.

It’s nice seeing him smile again. Even if only for a moment.

Slowly, he lowers his hands, and his expression turns serious again.

"I never knew you had children."

"Many people didn’t. Sadly, I’m a man with many secrets." I reply, and he blinks at me.

"What were they called?" he asks, and I let the question marinate as memories of my angels—my little girls— come to mind.

"Amber and Sofia." I let out a breath as I think about how they may have moved on without me. How they may have forgotten me.

Elian watches me silently, and somehow, I already know what his next question will be. Which is why I answer before he asks.

"I was killed."

He blinks at me in confusion, and I blink back.

"What?"

"I answered what you were about to ask."

"You do not know—"

"You were about to ask what happened."

His mouth immediately closes, then he sighs in surrender.

"Fine. I was going to ask that. But what do you mean you were killed?" He questions, and I sigh as I look down at my frail, ageing hands.

I exhale as I let the words go. There’s no point hiding it. It’s the truth. My truth.

"They killed me."

The silence that follows is almost comical.

I glance sideways, and Elián is staring at me with his mouth slightly open, eyes wide, and body completely frozen.

The expression is so ridiculous that I laugh. A genuine one. The first in days... Maybe weeks.

Because the horror on his face is genuinely impressive.

I never thought the story of my life was that horrific.

"Are you serious? You just casually told me your daughters murdered you, and you’re laughing? Was that a joke?" He demands in disbelief, and my laugh eases into a smile as I shake my head in negation.

"I am serious. My daughters...killed me. They...found better, I guess. My years of dedication and love for them... were nothing. I seem to have a knack for losing the...women I love." I reply, and he blinks at me for a second, and then smiles.

The kind you give when you are trying to console someone.

"You still have Queen Cassia. And your granddaughter." He replies, and mixed emotions consume me.

Cassia won’t reply to my letters. Neither has she acknowledged any of the gifts I sent. If I haven’t lost her then...I don’t know what this is. And about my granddaughter. That’s another reason I’m so worried about her safety.

Elián studies me. Probably deciding whether to push.

To my relief, he doesn’t. Instead, he leans back and returns his attention to the stars above.

Once again, we remain silent until I speak.

"My turn."

His brows rise as he looks at me.

"Your turn?" He questions, and I nod.

"You asked me what I miss." I point out, and recognition flashes across his face.

"What do you miss most about Earth?" I explain, partially preparing to hear him talk about his parents, or maybe siblings, for the first time.

But he falls silent. He shuts his eyes. I wait for a moment, and then a massive smile splits his face.

"Coca-Cola." He replies, and I pause.

Did–Did he just say—

"Coca-Cola?" I ask out loud, and he nods.

"And burgers." He adds, and I stare at him.

He stares back at me, and a perplexed laugh escapes me. And slowly it turns into a genuine laugh.

Not the polite chuckle I use during diplomatic meetings, or the amused exhale I reserve for my sons.

It’s an actual laugh. The kind that escapes before I can stop it.

Elián immediately looks offended instead of joining in.

"Why are you laughing!?" He demands, and I snort.

"You miss Coca-Cola?"

"Yes!"

"More than anything else?" I can’t help but confirm, and he raises a brow.

"Have you tasted Coca-Cola before?" He demands, and I scoff.

"Yes, but—"

"It’s like the most amazing beverage in the world. You don’t understand." He rants, and I smile.

"I clearly don’t," I agree, and he pouts.

I rub my forehead as thoughts consume me while looking at his ’angry’ little pout.

Somewhere in Beast Heaven, the ancient prophecy is probably crying.

This young man is carrying my grandchild. The Black Sect wants him, Balinar wants him, and a witch died protecting him.

He’s in constant danger, and somehow...What he misses most about the normal life he must have had on earth...is a drink??

I look back at the mischievous look on his face, and he blinks back.

The observatory falls quiet again, as the playful atmosphere slowly fades, and something more thoughtful settles into its place.

I watch him carefully. Watch the way his gaze drifts toward the stars, and his fingers absentmindedly rest against his stomach.

Protective... Almost like he’s making sure the child is still there. Still safe.

"I meant a person." I break the silence, and his expression drops softly then.

The humour fades, and his smile softens. For a moment... He looks...lonely.

I wait. Expecting the name of a friend, a relative... Someone from the world we have both left behind.

Instead, the silence stretches. Long enough that I begin to wonder if there truly is no one. Then finally, he speaks.

A genuine smile finally touches his lips as he does. A small, warm smile that I can’t help but notice.

"I miss Mother." He replies, and I give a small smile. The answer is unsurprising.

Expected, even.

Until he continues.

"Queen Cassia." For a moment, I wonder if I heard wrong.

I had not expected that answer. At all.

He misses Cassia?

What about his real mother? His parents. His family and siblings. He truly doesn’t miss anything from Earth? How can that be??

A tender smile splits his lips as he looks at me, and I just blink back.

"You look surprised."

"I am," I admit without a pause, and the words earn a quiet laugh from him.