Lunelle slid into her designated space beside her sister, the sweet florals of her moonblossom perfume like a warm embrace she didn’t know she missed so terribly.
Astra’s voice immediately slipped into her mind.There you are!
Sorry. I needed to freshen up.Lunelle kept her eyes fixed on their mother, her heart locked behind a brick wall the way Mirquios had taught her.
Astra was frantic, and Lunelle could feel the tension building in her chest.Are you okay? I couldn’t even sense you.
Oestera continued, “In an effort to show our firm support for Pluto’s wise decision to join in our fight against the oppression and tyranny of Solaris...”
Lunelle shrugged, doing everything within her power to maintain a casual air.
I’m fine. Just tired. It’s a long trip.
That was, unsurprisingly, not enough for her sister.
Everyone is being weird. What are you hiding?
Lunelle sat up, her spine tightening as she realized where her mother’s speech was going, and how much sooner she’d have to confront her reality than she had prepared for.
“It is my honor to announce to you that Arcas, the Prince of Pluto, has joined us along with his court for Lunelle’s trial. He’ll be the sole Lunar champion, signifying?—”
“What?” Astra yelped, her fingers tightening around the arm of her chair.
“What part aren’t you clear on, Astra?” Oestera sighed.
Astra’s anger echoed in the hall, “The part where you—the queen of ‘tradition matters, Astra’—are shucking centuries of ritual by only nominating one champion? The part where you’ve invited a court full of people who were our sworn enemies until a month ago and then promised your successor to them? Have you lost your mind?”
“Astra,” Lunelle said, reaching for her sister.
“Why even put her through a trial if you’re going to dictate the outcome? Just plan a wedding instead!”
“Astra Leona, that is enough!” Oestera’s harsh yell bounded against the crystalline walls of the palace, silencing any thoughts in Lunelle’s mind.
“This is insanity,” Astra cried. “How could you do this to her?”
Lunelle silently begged her sister to sit back down, to let her shoulder this burden. Her outburst only served as more proof that Astra was already holding onto too much.
Oestera slowly exhaled, recomposing herself.
“Your sister is not a child, Astra. She understands the role she plays. This is not the time to be soft. If you were more willing to do what was necessary for your court?—”
Astra’s hands went up in defense, that aventurine ring on her finger glinting in the moonlight. Lunelle’s hand involuntarily flexed under the absence of weight on her palm.
Astra’s voice dropped to a dangerous tone. “I’m more than willing to do what needs to be done to further the well-being of my court, something I would argue you have never done!”
The harsh words landed as Astra hoped. Lunelle could see the wince begging at her mother’s lips.
“Perhaps you should be down the hall with your intended’s court since your allegiance is clearly not to your queen.”
They held each other in a brutal stare. Astra broke the silence first.
“My allegiance is to the people upon whose backs you’ll fight this war. My allegiance is to my sister and the court she’ll have to piece back together after the mess you’re making of it.”
Gods, Lunelle’s heart cracked for both of them. She knew the painful wound Astra was rubbing salt in—she understood it in ways her sister never would.
“You’re right, Astra.” Oestera returned, a queen defeated. “What would I know about piecing together a broken court?” She would not give Astra a chance to volley another insult. “You are dismissed.”
Astra stormed out of the hall, taking her fury with her, but Oestera never recovered. The rest of their meeting was disjointed and sporadic, two things the Lunar queen never allowed herself to be.
