Chapter 82 - Deleted Scenes

I hadn't saved the 4th scene, but these are the 3 I had saved:

1. -Helia Palace; Luxana's Room; 5.52 AM-

The soft glow of dawn crept through the ornate windows of Luxana's chamber, casting long shadows across the opulent room. The young queen, resplendent in her black and crimson gown, crouched beside her massive four-poster bed. Her raven hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her delicate features and accentuating her striking ruby eyes.

With a mischievous glint in her gaze, Luxana extended a slender finger towards Cillian's sleeping form.

Poke

Poke

Poke

Each gentle prod to his cheek elicited no response from the slumbering man. Cillian lay on his side, arms outstretched before him, one draped casually over the other. The navy blue of his shirt contrasted sharply with the cream-colored sheets, catching Luxana's attention.

Wasn't he wearing a black outfit when we slept? Where'd he get a blue one from? she mused, her face resting on her right palm as she continued her gentle assault on his cheek.

Luxana wore a mesmerizing gown, a dramatic statement in black and crimson. The bodice was a deep, seductive red, baring her shoulders with a sweetheart neckline. A delicate choker adorned her neck, echoing the dress's fiery hue. From the waist, the dress cascaded into a sweeping black skirt, seemingly sprinkled with stardust. Red accents appeared asymmetrically, like flames licking at the shadows. Delicate ruffles added texture and movement. Ethereal sleeves, sheer as a whisper, billowed from her shoulders. Butterflies, like dark jewels, were scattered across the gown, adding a touch of whimsy to its gothic elegance.

Luxana rose gracefully to her feet, aware that she had deliberately woken hours before her maids would usually rouse her. Her early rising had a purpose - to uncover more about Minsan. As she glided towards the window, the delicate butterflies adorning her gown seemed to flutter with the movement.

Her reflection, a striking silhouette against the awakening city beyond, gazed back at her as she placed her hand on the cool glass. Her mind raced with the limited information she had gleaned about Minsan:

According to the book, which had quite limited information, Minsan is a sort of fortress, with 7 doors. Each door has a key and lock. It is said that these doors are connected to unknown realms and dimensions of the supernatural world. A key, is the holder of a door, who is given the responsibility to not only protect the people or creatures inside the door but also make sure the people or creatures inside the door never mingle with the people outside the door. Outside Door refers to the Human World and Inside Door to the Supernatural World. It is said that a God, the God of Minsan, selects the the keys as per their abilities and talents. And you don't get to meet the God that easily, nor does he really have any impact or control over you. It's all in the hands of the keys to solve any issue, with their own pure abilities. The God is not to blame. He only stands there. Watching. That's all. The keys are meant to find their locks. Why? So that there is someone to look after the door when the keys are not there. Someone who can mix in with both the human world and the supernatural world with the permit of the blood seal. A blood seal is a sort of ritual which must be performed where the lock drinks the blood of the key in front of their door. So Cillian isn't really being controlled by Minsan, he's being soley controlled by my mother.

But since, mother is preparing for the war, that Richard guy..............I have a gut feeling he's not into making Cillian bind to Minsan at all. He seems to have ulterior motives. Definitely something like.............maybe he's getting something from mother that's far more valuable than having Cillian be tied to Minsan. Hmm..........Like Cillian said, Xerxes is connected to Minsan, it could be possible that Richard wants to make a deal with him. I don't know, it's just a possibility. Moving on, if Richard isn't into Cillian, then if I'm careful enough I can make Cillian say something regarding this. If the war is in about 2 days from now, the best possible thing to do is, first of all kill the leaders of this war from both the sides, and I'll probably have to taken in the Azones and Alizahs and begin explanding my Kingdom, since restoring Kior will prove to be quite......................controversial if taken opinion from neighboring empires and kingdoms, it's best to slowly reintroduce magic with safety measures.

I would've sent an alliance letter to Elmir too, but...But they have a war with one of their own neighboring empires in a few weeks. I don't have enough military to send as support, I don't even know if the soldiers of Domino qualify for their positions. So since Cillian is a part of the Imperial Knight Order, he will have to join the war, not only as a knight but also as a noble son which is sent from every household to join the war, even though for the time being he's been declared the Little Duke of Valentine, he has 17 siblings in total, who can also become heir to their duchy, so sending Cillian won't make any difference for the Valentinians. That's probably why he's here with me, on a leave and not in Elmir, since he'll have to be on the training grounds soon to prepare for the war.

As she turned back to the bed, Luxana found Cillian sitting up, his silver hair a tousled mess and his aquamarine eyes still heavy with sleep. The sight of him, vulnerable and unguarded in the early morning light, gave her pause.

"Good Morning, Cleal," Luxana said softly, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

Cillian's voice was rough with sleep as he replied, "Yeah... good morning." He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, further mussing it.

"What time is it?" he asked, stumbling slightly as he rose from the bed.

"It's almost 6AM. And-" Luxana began, but Cillian cut her off.

"I asked my demon to get this shirt for me," he muttered, heading towards the bathroom with an air of indifference.

Luxana blinked in surprise. EH? How'd he know I was about to ask that? she wondered, turning back to the window in confusion.

10 minutes later

Cillian emerged from the bathroom, his appearance transformed. He wore an ensemble that whispered of subtle rebellion and understated elegance. A crisp, white collared shirt formed the base, its sleeves billowing slightly at the cuffs. Over this, a flowing, deep burgundy top draped casually, its wide V-neck exposing the pristine shirt beneath. An intricate, golden brooch fastened the burgundy fabric, hinting at hidden nobility.

His trousers were a sleek, dark black, their clean lines emphasizing a lean silhouette. A decorative sash, embellished with gold detailing, cinched the waist, adding a touch of ornate sophistication. The pants fell gracefully to his polished black shoes. It was an ensemble that blended scholarly refinement with a touch of daring individuality.

As Cillian emerged from the bathroom, his eyes were drawn to a mesmerizing sight. Luxana stood before the bedside table, a book held in front of her, her posture regal and commanding. Her eyes were closed, chin lifted high, and her hair - now a brilliant orange - floated ethereally around her, surrounded by a pulsing red aura. The scene was both beautiful and otherworldly, as if Luxana had momentarily transcended her mortal form.

Slowly, gracefully, she opened her eyes. As her gaze lowered, her hair cascaded down, settling back into its vibrant orange hue. Her eyes, now revealed, shimmered a striking zircon blue.

Cillian couldn't help but smirk, a teasing lilt in his voice as he quipped, "Awee.......what happened to your 'I'll keep it black forever' divulgence?"

Luxana's response was matter-of-fact, tinged with the weight of royal responsibility. "It's soon going to be 7 AM. My maids will come to wake me up, and I'll need to get ready for my royal duties." As she spoke, she returned the book to the drawer and approached Cillian. With each step, her appearance shifted once more - hair darkening to black, eyes deepening to a rich crimson.

"Oh.........right!" Cillian exclaimed, suddenly remembering something. He rubbed his neck, his other hand resting on his hip in a casual pose. "Well then, I'll get going," he added with a shrug and a soft smile that betrayed his reluctance to leave.

Luxana stood before him, arms crossed, her gaze penetrating. "Don't you think there's something I need to know?" she prodded, eyebrow raised in expectation.

Cillian tilted his head, feigning ignorance. "Like what?"

"Anything. Anything at all?" Luxana pressed, her tone a mixture of exasperation and curiosity.

"HMMM........." Cillian hummed dramatically, adopting an exaggerated thinking pose.

Luxana sighed, a hint of fondness in her exasperation. "Idiot," she muttered, stepping forward. In one fluid motion, she linked her right arm through his left, pulling him along. As they moved together, the air around them began to shimmer with red, flame-like lights.

-Corridor; Amoria Palace; 6.13 AM-

"HUH? Where are we?" Cillian exclaimed, as he turned his head from right to left, as Luxana began walking forward.

"Amoria Palace." Luxana uttered, as she walked forth. Cillian sprinted, to close the distance between them.

"And why?" Cillian pressed. "I thought, you had some ROYALE duties to complete." He exclaimed, exaggerating.

"I do." Luxana exclaimed, taking two steps forth and spinning around gracefully as she met his eyes and exclaimed, "Where's the fun in completing duties when I can spend time doing crazy things with you?" She exclaimed, smiling.

"HUH?" Cillian froze, his eyes widening and his face full of disgust. "OKAY OKAY OKAY! You've lost your mind." He exclaimed, turning back and beginning to walk away.

"EHHH!" Luxana exclaimed, running to grab hold of his wrist and pulling him back to make him meet her eyes. She pouted as their gaze met and exclaimed, "How come you get to meet me whenever you want and don't let me leave until you wish but I don't get to do the same with you?"

2. The first tendrils of dawn crept through the tall, arched windows of Luxana's room, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the room. and painting the ornate ceiling with strokes of soft rose and gold. Dust motes danced in the sunbeams, illuminating the intricate frescoes depicting scenes of ancient Helian legends. The room itself was a symphony of muted opulence – silk drapes the color of seafoam cascaded to the polished marble floor, and a delicate chandelier crafted from Muranian glass hung suspended above, its crystals tinkling softly in the morning breeze. The air was heavy with the scent of night-blooming jasmine, its fragrance lingering from the gardens below. In the fireplace, the last embers of the night's fire pulsed with a faint, dying glow.

Luxana's eyes fluttered open, the familiar beauty of the ceiling a comforting sight. She stretched languidly, her limbs heavy with sleep, and pushed herself up from the plush velvet cushions. Sleep still clung to her like a silken shroud. She flopped back onto the bed with a groan, arms outstretched, seeking the cool expanse of the sheets.

But instead of the expected coolness, her right arm encountered a warm, solid mass. A jolt of awareness shot through her. She turned her head slowly, cautiously, her ruby red eyes narrowed with a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

She froze.

Her eyes widened, pupils dilating in disbelief.

It was Cillian.

He lay on his left side, facing her, his white-silver hair tousled against the crisp white linen,  like spun moonlight, catching the faint light and giving it an almost ethereal glow. His eyelashes, long and surprisingly delicate, rested against his cheekbones. His aquamarine eyes were closed in sleep, the delicate skin around them uncreased and peaceful. In the soft morning light, his features seemed impossibly perfect, like a sculptor had painstakingly chiseled him from marble. With a start, she turned her head, her heart suddenly racing. There, bathed in the soft light of dawn, lay Cillian. His features relaxed in peaceful repose. For a moment, Luxana forgot to breathe, struck by the surreal beauty of the scene.

EHHHHH? WHAT THE HELL IS BROSKI DOING HERE? Luxana's mind screamed, the tranquility of the morning shattered by a wave of utter shock. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the stunned silence of the room. Then, like a dam bursting, the memories of the previous night flooded her consciousness.

Oh…so that's why… Luxana mused, a slow smile curving her lips. A mischievous glint sparked in her ruby red eyes. She rose once more, this time with purpose. She quietly grabbed one of the fluffy, goose-down pillows from beside her, testing its weight in her hand. Perfect.

A surge of playful energy coursed through her. She raised the pillow high above her head, her smile widening into a grin.

"HYAAAH!" she exclaimed, bringing the pillow down with a satisfying thwack against Cillian's face.

The impact sent a small cloud of feathers into the air, catching the sunlight and creating a momentary, magical spectacle in the room.

Cillian's eyes fluttered open as a soft, downy feather tickled his nose. He inhaled sharply, inadvertently sucking in a few stray feathers. Sputtering and coughing, he sat up abruptly, his vision filled with floating white specks. Through the haze, he heard Luxana's melodious laughter, her eyes twinkling with mischief. The morning sunlight streaming through the ornate windows caught the floating feathers, creating a surreal, shimmering effect around them.

"Wakey wakey, feather face," Luxana teased, her voice lilting with amusement. She twirled the pillow playfully, its silken cover catching the light. "Enjoying your feathery breakfast?"

Cillian's face darkened, a storm brewing in his eyes as embarrassment rapidly turned to fury. The muscles in his jaw clenched, a vein pulsing at his temple. In one fluid motion, he snatched the pillow from Luxana's grasp, his fingers digging into the soft fabric. With a forceful grunt, he slammed it to the floor, the impact sending a fresh cloud of feathers exploding into the air.

The playful atmosphere shattered like glass. Before Luxana could even blink, Cillian's fist connected with her face, the sound of the impact echoing in the suddenly silent room. She stumbled backward, her legs hitting the edge of the bed as she fell onto the plush mattress. A thin stream of crimson trickled from her nose, stark against her pale skin. Cillian loomed over her, his eyes as cold and unforgiving as a winter storm.

"Funny," he growled, his voice low and dangerous, each word dripping with venom. "I can't seem to recall ever going easy on woman."

Despite the pain radiating from her face, Luxana's lips curled into a defiant smirk. A spark of challenge ignited in her eyes, matching the fire in Cillian's gaze. "Oh really?" she taunted, her voice a mix of pain and sarcasm. "What a pity. Allow me to demonstrate some mercy then, you brute."

With a grace that belied her injury, Luxana sprang up from the bed. Her fist cut through the air, aiming straight for Cillian's face. But he was ready, his reflexes honed by years of combat. He dodged to the side, his hand shooting out to grab her arm mid-swing. Using her own momentum against her, he pulled, throwing her off balance.

Luxana yelped in surprise as she crashed into Cillian's chest, the solid wall of muscle unyielding against her impact. The scent of sandalwood and something uniquely him filled her nostrils, a stark contrast to the metallic tang of blood she could taste on her lips.

Undeterred by her failed attack, Luxana scrambled to regain her footing. Her eyes blazed with determination as she prepared for another assault. Just as she raised her fist, tensing for the strike, a sharp knock shattered the tension in the room.

"Your Majesty," called a maid's voice from beyond the door, "I've brought your morning tea."

As the door began to creak open, panic flashed across Luxana's face, her eyes widening in alarm. In that split second of desperation, she made a decision. She lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Cillian's neck. Her body pressed against his as she summoned her powers.

Fiery light engulfed them, crackling with energy. The air shimmered and warped around their intertwined forms. With a sound like rushing wind - SHWHAHHSHS - they vanished from the room, leaving behind only a swirling cloud of feathers and a very confused maid.

They reappeared in a tangle of limbs on Luxana's bed in Amoria Palace, the abrupt teleportation leaving them both momentarily disoriented. As the world stopped spinning, Cillian found himself looking up at Luxana, who was sprawled across his chest. A chuckle bubbled up from his throat, growing into full-blown laughter.

"Well, well," he said, his voice rich with amusement. "Brave enough to gossip about me to an entire village, but scared witless by a single maid? How utterly pitiful, my love."

Luxana's cheeks flushed with indignation. "Oh, shut your insufferable mouth," she snapped, pushing herself up. With a forceful shove, she sent Cillian tumbling off the edge of the bed. His head hit the polished marble floor with a resounding thud, but even that couldn't stop his laughter.

"What a waste of man power resources.," Luxana huffed, turning away dramatically. She crossed her arms over her chest, her posture rigid with annoyance. The sunlight streaming through the windows of Amoria Palace caught the highlights in her hair, creating a halo effect that contrasted sharply with her scowling expression.

Cillian grinned as he stood, rubbing the back of his head where it had connected with the floor. His eyes sparkled with mischief, a stark change from their earlier coldness. "Aw," he cooed, his voice dripping with false sweetness, "You wanted me to be a woman then?"

"EWWW NO!" Luxana exclaimed, disgust running her face, just as the weight she had been putting on the edge of the bed on her palms slipped falling right onto Cillian's chest again. Cillian laughed, rising up slowly. 

"HAAAAAH." She exclaimed, resting her head on Cillian's chest, completely defeated and unwilling to resist anymore.

He slowly grabbed her face with both his hands from both his sides and cupped her face in his hands and exclaimed, "When we get home, I'll tear you to shreds, remember that.

3. -Helia Palace; Luxana's Room; 5.52 AM-

Cillian who was laying to his right side, at the very edge of the bed, his arms stretched out. Just as Cillian's eyes fluttered open, he saw......

Luxana wearing The dress is a gothic dream, steeped in shadows and whispers of gold. A hooded cloak, deepest obsidian, drapes from the shoulders, its edges trimmed with delicate, spiderweb lace in shimmering, antique gold. The hood itself, lined with a whisper of scarlet silk, casts the face in alluring shadow.

The bodice, a symphony of black velvet and gold brocade, is sculpted to a figure-hugging fit. Intricate patterns of thorns and roses intertwine across the velvet, picked out in subtle gold thread. A cascade of tiered ruffles in layers of gossamer black silk and gold-threaded netting form the skirt, each layer edged with white lace, like frost on a winter night.

Beneath the ruffles, a glimpse of a shorter skirt can be seen, crafted from a heavier black fabric patterned with subtle white filigree. Trailing from the skirt are elaborate chains of polished obsidian beads, interspersed with delicate gold charms shaped like crosses and hearts, each one catching the light with a faint, ethereal glimmer.

High-heeled boots, also in black velvet and laced with gold ribbon, complete the ensemble. Their heels, tipped with crimson, echo the red silk lining the hood, adding a subtle splash of forbidden color to the otherwise somber palette. The overall effect is one of darkly romantic elegance, a captivating blend of shadow and light, mystery and allure.

Luxana was sitting on a chair, with her legs close to her chest, as her chin hid behind her knees.

She put her legs down, and exclaimed, "Good Morning, Cleal." with an extremely soft voice and a beautiful radiating smile.

Cillian slowly rose up. Has she lost her mind? He mused, peircing his aquamarine eyes into her ruby red ones.

Luxana's smile slowly faded, as she brought her legs back up and burried half of her face behind them. Only the saddness in her eyes was visible as she uttered, "Isn't there something you need to tell me?"

"Tell you? Like what?" Cillian shot back, completely uninterested, as he got up from the bed and walked to the bathroom.

10 minutes later

Cillian emerged from the bathroom, The outfit is a compelling blend of refined elegance and subtle flair, carefully constructed with a harmonious balance of crimson, crisp white, and deep black. At its core lies a pristine white dress shirt, its high collar buttoned with small white buttons to a crisp, elegant point. The sleeves are long, extending to the wrist, where they gather neatly into buttoned cuffs. A short-sleeved, flowing garment in a rich crimson color is draped artistically over the shirt. This piece, likely made from a lightweight fabric such as silk, creates a striking contrast against the white shirt beneath. It features a wide V-neck, partially revealing the white shirt beneath.

On the chest of the crimson garment is an ornament, perhaps a brooch or an embroidered crest, crafted in gold. One of the sleeves of the shirt is adorned with a decorative string of pearl-like embellishments cascading down its length. The ensemble is completed with a pair of sleek black trousers that are straight, and their material has a subtle sheen. At the waist, there's a wrap, a decorative piece with black and gold.

Overall, the outfit evokes a sense of sophisticated refinement, suggesting a character of both intellect and style.

Luxana was still seated behind the chair, with the hood on, half of her face hidden behind her legs.

Cillian sighed and walked up to her. As he reached her, he stood right in front of the chair and kneelt down to one knee and before looking into her eyes, he sighed once more, looked her in the eye and just as he opened his mouth to speak-

Luxana blurted, with her face fully hidden under the hood except for the mouth, "According to the book, which had quite limited information, Minsan is a sort of fortress, with 7 doors. Each door has a key and lock." 

Cillian was shocked, but he said nothing, seeing how she still had more to say.

"It is said that these doors are connected to unknown realms and dimensions of the supernatural world. A key, is the holder of a door, who is given the responsibility to not only protect the people or creatures inside the door but also make sure the people or creatures inside the door never mingle with the people outside the door. Outside Door refers to the Human World and Inside Door to the Supernatural World. It is said that a God, the God of Minsan, selects the the keys as per their abilities and talents. And you don't get to meet the God that easily, nor does he really have any impact or control over you. It's all in the hands of the keys to solve any issue, with their own pure abilities. The God is not to blame. He only stands there. Watching. That's all. The keys are meant to find their locks. Why? So that there is someone to look after the door when the keys are not there."

Cillian's eyes widened more.

"Someone who can mix in with both the human world and the supernatural world with the permit of the blood seal. A blood seal is a sort of ritual which must be performed where the lock drinks the blood of the key in front of their door. So you're not really being controlled by Minsan, you're soley being controlled by my mother.

But since, mother is preparing for the war, that Richard guy...........,,,,,...I have a gut feeling he's probably not into having you bind to Minsan at all. He seems to have ulterior motives, instead. Definitely something like.............maybe he's getting something from mother that's far more valuable than having you tied to Minsan...........Like you said, Xerxes is connected to Minsan, it could be possible that Richard wants to make a deal with him or maybe, Xerxes can also be one of the supernaturals belonging to a door. I don't know. You're the only one who knows.........so yeah......Moving on, if Richard isn't into you, you've probably figured out a way to handle the war. Since the war is in about 2 days from now, I suppose the best possible thing to do is, first of all kill the leaders of this war from both the sides, and I'll probably have to take in the Azones and Alizahs and begin explanding my Kingdom, since restoring Kior will prove to be quite......................controversial if taken opinion from neighboring empires and kingdoms, it's best to slowly reintroduce magic with safety measures."

Cillian's eyes could already express how overwhelmed he was after seeing how much Luxana found out with just a few hints.

"And I would've sent an alliance letter to Elmir too, but...But they have a war with one of their own neighboring empires in a few weeks. I don't have enough military to send as support, I don't even know if the soldiers of Domino qualify for their positions. So since you're is a part of the Imperial Knight Order, you will have to join the war, not only as a knight but also as a noble son which is sent from every household to join the war, even though for the time being you've been declared the Little Duke of Valentine, you have 17 siblings in total, who can also become heir to your duchy, so sending you won't make any difference for the Valentinians. That's probably why he's here with me, spending time with me since we won't be seeing each other soon and you'll have to be on the training grounds soon to prepare for the war."

"And when mother said to secure me, as your lock and manipulate me, it meant to completely use my Dragon Flames power and your Demonic power to not only seal the doors of Minsan which will be opened by the Alizahs to destroy Azones but also to kill Alizahs in the process of flushing those supernatural beasts back into their door. And when you said, to wait for you and not to come looking for you........................................you........." Luxana's voice began hitching as tears began swelling up her eyes..........................my mother will die in my stead and................you will die regardless."

Cillian's expression changed from that of a hope to that one of an expressionless serious face, completely exassperated and skeptical as he glared at her.

"PATHETIC!" he exclaimed, rising back to his feet and smacking Luxana's head.

"Bruh. I thought you'd say something far more convincing." He exclaimed, dropping himself on the bed to sit. He leaned back, his hands on the bed, as he looked diagonally at the walls of the room before he put his gaze back on her, who held her legs tigtly near the ankles and kept weeping behind them.

His brow furrowed, as he leaned forward and reached for her head and as he removed the hood which covered her head and found her head resting on her knees. Cillian sighed, as he grabbed her head with both his hands and lifted it to find-

a supernatural