Damon felt the churn of his stomach tighten as an uneasy feeling began to grow. Now sitting down was just as uncomfortable than hearing the name that everyone have forgotten these years, whirl around his mind.

The crown prince stared at the little princess with a dismay look, his cold glance stirred up the little ice princess from her seat and she rubbed her bare feet together nervously.

"Your words do not make sense, young princess." He spoke. "How can you overhear a duke whose been dead for more than two decades?" his words had made the young princess' eyes widened, with a nervous expression look forming on her face.

Her mouth slightly opened but quickly closed, hesitant to speak as she glanced down to avoid eye contact. Astraea bit her lower lip.

Damon's thoughts began to rile up as many questions began to appear from each corner of his mind. 'Who did she really hear this from? IS she really worth to trust? Is she going to tell me the former grand Duke of Isvand is still alive? Does Diana got to do with any of this? What is the Emperor of Isvand hiding? What happened to the Mirror? What did he see?' it made his mind go crazy from all these questions he knew would not be immediately answered right away.

However, the question that stood out to him the most was 'How come a little princess come to this information and where had she heard it from?'

Gold eyes laid upon the red blaze in front of him to avoid making Astraea uncomfortable with his cold and determined stare. He watched the crackling firewood burn to embers, turning it to black as he waited for Astraea to speak.

Astraea clenched the material of her night gown tightly, her knuckles turning a pale white. She was hesitant to speak of the information she knew, afraid that if someone had find out of her betrayal, she will be punished or maybe executed by her father for telling a foreigner forbidden information.

".... Prince Damon" she finally spoke after a minute of silent. Her voice softer than before and the nervous tone that was very noticeable to the Crown prince of Aureum.

Damon hummed in response, turning his attention to princess again. "If I tell you something, can you please not speak of it to anyone?" Astraea questioned with a tremble of her tone and the shaken hands that gripped her dress even more so tightly.

Damon was shocked for a mere instant, but his cod gaze stayed the same and he nodded his head. "Whatever said here, stays here. You have a royal's promise, Princess Astraea" his gentle words brought an instant peace to the princess terrified racing heart, and her dark pupils outgrew with relief.

What a gentle and trustworthy prince, she had thought to herself. The rumours may have been true of Prince Damon's cold and distant manner towards anyone, but they never stated how gentle he can be at some point.

"T-Thank you" she said with a small smile that formed on the corner of her lips. "Princess Diana is very lucky to have good husband such as yourself" her words struck a core to Damon's heart as sudden guilt began to creep in his instant heavy chest. Gold eyes widened in shock and his throat went dry. He gulped down a spit of salvia to get rid of the desert in his throat, but it did not work.

Damon sat there, unable to speak. He could not take those kind words from Astraea since after all it was not true. None of it was true. He was not a good husband. Hell! he was not even a good fiancé to her. A cheating fiancé he thought of himself who fell in love with their fiancée's younger sister when he was already engaged with someone else. He could never call himself a worthy husband.

A cheater is always a cheater. How could he trust himself not to cheat on his new lover like he did with his fiancée?

Who was to blame though? Diana was never a future wife material or a future empress to his empire. She was spoilt and bratty, always so childish with everything and not to forget she was always so clingy that it bothered him, and he could never get any privacy from her. but Ariana wasn't. She was kind, never disrupting him when he was busy with the empire and always approachable, just like a queen should be.

Diana didn't have any of those, she was just a slutty bitch who clung herself to any other princes other than himself. It was the reason he despised her so much.

What reason is there to love someone like her? Why does he have to be the one to be blamed for something she started first? How can he marry someone who has her dignity downhill in the noble society?

"Your highness?" the innocent teenager examined his pale face and sensed something was wrong. Did she say something she shouldn't have?

Her voice brought him back to Alphyria and he looked at her again. He wanted to correct her and tell her that he and Diana are no more but strangers, but his voice did not voice out, and his mind refused to do so.

He looked down at his pale hands that trembled slightly. Maybe he should have called off the engagement years ago to prevent the whole affair behind her back. Maybe he wouldn't have to be called a cheater.

He didn't blame the little princess for not knowing of the annulment of Diana and him. The people of Isvandy never care of matters that happen outside their kingdom, that's why news never travel far from them or it's really slow.

Damon left it be, and his stoic expressionless face returned once more. "Tell me what you know" he said impatiently all of a sudden, changing the subject to avoid anything else that relates to Diana.

Astraea gulped down the hesitation and her lips parted way as she began to speak, her teal eyes beginning to glow vibrantly and her voice gentle as usual "You must know of the ancient legend of the Alphyrian Crystal?" she began with a slight question.

Damon's cold gaze become questionable. It was a question that sounded stupid to him and of course he knew what the crystal was however only a fool would believe that the crystal actually existed in Alphyria. It was just a story written for little kids to believe their world of magic began from a crystal that has been quoted 'Lost' for over thousands of years before coming to view 100 decades ago to defeat the monstrous orcs that appeared from a mountain to take over Alphyria for their own.

Even if it did exist, no one has ever found it before and anyone who tried to search for a lost crystal never returned alive.

The crown prince leaned back against the sofa and listened in with a cock of his brow. "I know of the lost Alphyrian crystal" he answered coldly, mocking the last few words.

Astraea sighed with relief "Then you must know of how our world of magic began." Damon did not question her belief and accepted whatever this young teenage girl believed, nodding his head in reply of her question.

The people of Isvand may be distant and secretive yet they believe in any legend that has been told of. Naïve people of Alphyria.

The young princess lifted her hand and twirled it around up front and with that a crystal-like magic began to submerge through her palm.

"Everyone knows how the story of the great orc war had ended. The Great King used the crystal to lock away the mountain then disappeared from the face of Alphyria and his kingdom with him. Not a sign of the crystal was seen except for the little shards that was left behind" She began, a crystal shaped ice formed, and floated above her palm.

Damon watched in curiosity as the ice then began to shape around creating figures of people fighting against these giant monsters then to suddenly create a high mighty figure of a king that did not reveal any of his facial features.

"Each shard had perished within the parts of Alphyria." The ice changed back to a crystal jewel. "One had succumbed in the very earth of Alphyria, one in the fiery pits of Mulrunaz, another in the lakes of Vahlom, one had become with the air somewhere in Ventus, the last two had dispersed where the sun rises and where the moon sets." She spoke as each ice shard changed to a specific scene.

"And they had become the very source of everyone's elemental magic. Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Light and Darkness" Astraea rose her other hand slowly to her eye level, gazing teal eyes glittered with such innocence. With a gentle motion of her hand twirl, crystal clear water had faintly appeared and began to circle around her wrist before slowly making it around her hand and around her slender white fingers, constantly spinning in and out. "And the ancient lakes of Vahlom become my peoples source of magic."

Damon rose an eyebrow in confusion. Why was she telling him these things that he already knew? What was this young princess trying to point out in her history lesson?

Suddenly her eyes locked with Damon's gold eyes. "However, in years' time when magic was at its earliest, powerful mages began to discover that there was much more to the element than what they seemed to see"

"Wind mages began to sore deeper in the air and discovered the power of healing, fire mages came about the ability to use lightening and control lava at their will, while the earth mages learned to control nature itself. All these sources of information spread through Alphyria, each one knowing the others hidden elemental power"

Damon huffed in annoyance, gently stroking the strands of dark hair back. "And water mages learnt the art of controlling Ice" he added impatiently, interrupting the young princess. The crown prince knew all of this and bothered to him why she was wasting his time telling her useless information that does not relate to the deceased grand duke of Isvand.

Astraea could sense his impatient aura; she could read what was going through his mind, 'What has Astraea story got anything to do with Ophir' is what she could read from the annoyed expression formed on the young crown prince's face.

"That is true, we water mages learnt that ice ties with water and we can control both at the same time" when she replied to his words from before, she demonstrated her abilities. Small particles of ice burst out from her left palm while water did the same on her right palm. "However, that is the only source of magic water mages wanted everyone in Alphyria to know".

The crown prince of Aureum eyes widened in surprise as he shot a questionable look towards the princes. He wasn't surprised with what she had said, the people of Isvand were always so secretive, keeping whatever valuable information to themselves, hiding away in the empire, and never revealing themselves to the rest of the world.

No wonder no one in Alphyria knows anything about them or what goes through their kingdom.

Astraea rose from her seat, her long white nightgown flowed down to her ankles, and she walked towards the fire. The fire reflected light from her teal eyes as she stared at it in wonder. As if she could read his mind without looking in his eyes she spoke, yet this time her voice sound chilly "Have you ever wondered why we are so distant from the rest of Alphyria?"

Damon narrowed his cold gaze at her without an answer, a bitter scowl began to express across his face.

"Your silence speaks for you, your royal highness" Astraea glance at him from the side, teal eyes glittering red from the reflection of the fire that she stared at. The sudden innocent aura changed to a chilling feel in the air. As if her innocence was just an act to lure herself in his given chambers.

"Let me be the one to tell you." As the last words left her lips, a cold breeze erupted by, turning off the fire immediately in one whoosh of the cold wind. As Damon defence instinct jolted up and he opened his palm to bring in light, the outline glow of Astraea face shone a light blue and her teal eyes glow brightly.

Damon watched in surprise as the water flowed around her, illuminating a bright blue glow.

"Unlike the rest of the Elements, water has been such a mysterious element. It holds secrets that even us water mages cannot decipher." Her hand waved in water flowing gesture as the glowing followed after her fingertips. "Such powerful magic that was greedily hidden from the world"

Damon listened closely; his eyes fixated on the water then began to change drastically. "What are you people hiding?" he mumbled subconsciously.

"memory" she answered and sudden images began to appear on the water that circled around her. Damon jaw dropped and he walked closer to get a better look, mesmerised by the things he was seeing. "Water is like a chain of memories that flow through time like a stream. Like ears they listen, like eyes they see and like a mind they remember"

Damon's gold eyes stared deeply into the princess glowing eyes; he came to realisation that the princess has used the memory of the water. "This is how you came about the information about the grand duke"

Astraea nodded her head obediently. The water disappeared, fading away to the cold air and the fire crackled back to life of red and orange. "It's ancient magic that has been banned in my kingdom for over five centuries. No one practices it anymore. No one speaks of it and not all know of it." she said. "That's why I asked of you not speak to of it to anyone"

"I do not walk over my words, princess" Damon assured her.

Astraea bowed her head in courtesy before rising her head back up to look at the man in front of her.

"Can you inform me of the mirror that you came here to speak of before?" Damon asked. Astraea turned away from his gaze and approached the sofa, her night dress flowed behind her, trailing her every step. She sat obediently back to the spot she got up earlier.

Damon however didn't take a seat and the sudden cool air brushed him. His muscles tensed from the frozen chill he felt in his bones. He was so fascinated and intrigued by the water that he had forgotten about the cold he was complaining about hours ago.

Astraea brought her hands up, positioning them as if she was holding an invisible bowl in the air. Instantly water began to appear from thin air, it started to circle around shaping into a ball. Damon leaned forward to get a better look into the ball of water that had images of people in fancy clothes, waltzing gracefully around the ballroom with their partner.

"It happened 25 years ago on the night of the celestial stars. A night of festive, balls and celebration."

The ball room glimmered like a thousand stars in the night sky as giant pillars of ice lit the giant crystal room like candles.

Beautifully dressed nobles, hand in hand, waltz gracefully around the dance floor to the melody of the music that sung through the air. Long trails of dresses swept the floor as the women danced with the partners with delicate smiles on their faces.

However, among the beautiful ladies and men, two particular aristocrats stood out the most. Eyes would follow the beautiful pair wherever they span and twirled, their footsteps so graceful as if they were dancing on their tips of their shoes on top of fragile ice.

Hair white as the very snow that seemed to glitter like ice under the glowing bright rays of the sun as flowed from side to side when the beautiful girl danced like a swan while small blue crystal tiara sat on top of her head. Her giant laced gown illuminated a light blue glow which people could not take their eyes off. Bundle of white narrow roses hauled down the back waist of her dress and when she moved, the long hems of the dress seemed like it fluttered dozens of white and blue rose petals.

Long laces of thin ribbon attached to crystalised roses, around her wrists as bracelets and it danced with the rhythm of her twirls.

An enchanted dress fit for an enchanted lady is what everyone had thought.

Her beauty matched the goddess of beauty herself, an envy of all noble women in the whole continent of Isvand.

Her sapphire blue eyes glowed like a hundred jewels as it gazed warmly at the light blue haired noble man who gentle held one of her hands while the other hand gently held the side of her waist as he lead her around the dance floor, gracefully and beautifully.

The man who had the privilege of dancing with the young beautifully lady was a handsome man, with hair like the colour of the ocean surface and the same sapphire eyes that gazed kindly right back. He was once a young man who women fawned for; years ago, but still do behind their icy crystal fans.

A father who wore the same colour of his daughters dress with the same flower that peeked out from the right pocket of his majestic noble suit.

"All eyes are on my daughter tonight" his whispered gently, his voice soft and deep.

A soothing giggle left her light pink lips as she rested her forehead on the broad chest of her father's feeling her cheeks heat up from a little embarrassment.

"And yet that sadly concludes those pesky cockroaches to swarm around you" He sighed, shaking his head. "If only you were born as a boy and I wouldn't have to worry about giving you away to one of those ugly monkeys" he said, narrowing his eyes at the staring young noble gentlemen. The grand duke could feel his blood boil from the thought of his dear daughter in the hands of a nasty noble man.

If anyone tried to take her away from him, he will send a huge blizzard towards them and burying them in piles of snow and unable to get out. The thought of him doing that made him feel powerful and he firm posture deepened, and a little proud expression crossed his face.

Mariana continued to giggle at her father's loathing comments towards the male aristocrats and the expression he pulled. The young princess knew exactly what went through her fathers mind and made her giggle.

Her father was everything to her and she couldn't live without him.

"Dear Father, please stop" she continued to laugh softly and lady like, her beautiful smile resulting Ophir to smile little, and his firm posture relaxed. He twirled his daughter to the melody of the music, his boots echoing lightly when he stepped. "I'm not a child that needs protecting by her father anymore. I'm a grown lady now" she assured him. Ophir felt his heart sting just the thought of his daughter being all grown up. If only he could stop time and stay like this forever, his daughter still a child and needs her father. Him reading her stories of princess getting rescued by knights from monstrous beast every night, with her dolls tucked in her little chubby arms.

It made him tear up a little.

Mariana could see the pain in her father's stoic expression whom he tried to hide so desperately as a grand duke "And you know very well you need a grandson to take over the title of duke" she said.

Hearing this Ophir rose an eyebrow with a questionable look forming on his face. "Who said I needed a grandson to take over the family and the title of duke when I pass?" a small smirk twisted on the corner of his lips.

Mariana tilted her head, gazing at her childish father as he let go of her hand to twirl her around the spot.

"Whatever do you mean, father?" she questioned however she already could read what was going in his mind through those sapphire eyes that resembled so much of hers.

With a mischievous glint his eyes and a grin crossing his face, Ophir placed his forehead on hers and glanced warmly down at her beautiful daughter. "I'm sure the emperor can live through the remaining years of his life with a lady taking over the title of grand duke of Isvand and over the Lancaster family"

Mariana smiled with a slight giggle.

She could never say how much she admired and loved her father. A man who did not believe in the hierarchy system, a man who believed that everyone was equal as humans, not even the colour of their skin made them any different from human. He even believed that women should have the choice of being anything they desired to be then given away as political tools for power.

She admired him deeply and wanted to be a duke just like him one day. Someone who he will be proud to be called father by her.

He was a gentleman outside and inside.

Ophir himself knew that his daughter would grow up to be a great leader to the people, a duchess whom the people would look up to and proud to be called followers under her.

"I hope to make you proud with the decisions I make for this kingdom" she answered with gentle tone.

With a smile, Ophir kissed her daughters brow. "Mariana my dear child, I have always been proud of you"

They both twirled as the music played around them. The gazes of the people didn't leave them, each one wondering what the daughter and father were discussing and laughing about.

When the music came to a faint stop, the father and daughter duo slowly departed from each other then to bow with courtesy to one another.

As Mariana smiled to her father and Ophir returning the same gentle smile, the dance had ended gracefully with each lady and men bowing to each other as respect and the aristocrats who watched form the side lines clapped.

It was a night like any other Celestial star celebration every year....

That is what they all presumed to believe.

When Ophir held out his hand for his daughter to place so he could escort both of them from the dance floor and back into the crowds of dressed nobles the giant glacier doors swung open and a man dressed in fine clothing came rushing in with a deafening yell.

"Your highness! Your royal majesty!" he cried out. His face was pale as sweat dropped down his face. The man was such a mess as he made his way to the emperor who sat on the icy throne, glaring down at the wailing man who had the audacity to storm into his ball in such a festive night, in demand to see him. It had turned the cheerful ball room into a chilly wonderland as the aura of the emperor darkened.

"WHO DARES TO INTERFERE THIS CELESTIAL NIGHT!" the emperor's voice boomed in pure anger that immediately made them wailing man drop to his knees swiftly on the spot, head banging the ground as he bowed on the ground. Body trembling in fear and sudden regret for rudely ruining this night.

Ophir stepped in front of the troubled Mariana as if he was protecting her from harm. she fisted the material on her father's arm and peeked her head slowly out to look at the man pitifully and worry.

Every noble had backed away making the trembling man kneel on all fours in an empty space. Each one beginning to whisper quietly so the emperor does not hear and attack them.

The man didn't even rise his head to look up. He was terrified and scared if he looked up and into the ice of the emperor his head would be flying instantly in the other direction. With a scared and stuttering tone, he began to speak "Y-your r-royal m-majesty-".

He didn't even get to speak when the emperor voiced boomed in with irritation. "SPEAK CLEARLY, YOU INSOLENT FOOL"

The man squeaked. "M-my a-apolo-" again the man was interrupted again with the deathly voice of the emperor.

"STOP YAPPING AND GIVE ME YOUR EXCUSE FOR INTERRUPTING!" The emperor of Isvand, Adrastos, banged his mighty fist on the armrest of his icy throne. Shards of ice blast out through his throne, terrifying everyone.

Ophir hugged his young daughter from the ice, raising his hand in the air and palm wide open as he used his ice magic to protect him and his daughter with a few other people who were around him.

"I-it's the V-Veritas mirror, your royal highness. It's glowing!"

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Hello, Hello, everyone.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I loved writing it.

Sorry it took awhile for me to update, wattpad was being a bitch to me and wouldn't update. 😕😕. Stupid software.

Anyway, I hope you liked Ophir's character and Mariana's as well. I'm doing my best to make them likeable because I love them and yet we all know what's going to happen to them later. 😭😭😭

I'm gonna cry writing the next chapter though. I need to get full boxes of tissue for the next chapter. I hope you guys are ready.

This are getting interesting... Well to me anyway. I don't know about you guys.

What will the Emperor Adrastos see in the mirror that caused the downfall of the Lancaster? What happens to Ophir Lancaster? Why did she marry Marcus?

This all questions that will be answered in the next chapter.

Either way, here are some character pictures for my beloved Lancaster Daughter and Father.



This is Mariana's dress. (I tried to describe the best I can) .



This is Mariana when she was 16 years old (before she was married to Marcus). I love her so much.



This is what Ophir wore but it's in a bit more light blue than white (That's not him by the way. That's some random guy I don't know who.)



That's him not the guy above (I know he looks young but he had Mariana when he was like around 17 or 18 and he would be 33 or 34 now). I want him to be my daddy.

Anyway that is it for this chapter stay tuned for the next one. By love you all.

Bye bye.