Mini Side Story: (A Luneth Bonus Story)
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The morning sun draped the imperial gardens in soft gold. Dew clung to every petal, and the warm breeze carried the scent of blooming lilies.
Under the shade of the silverleaf trees, young Etheron Vesperion Aetheris sat cross-legged, a curious frown on his face. In front of him, Liceriana Celeste Lucerion carefully laid out a circle of bright flowers — each one picked by her own hand.
"You have to make a crown, Etheron," Liceriana said, her silver-blond hair falling over her shoulder as she worked. "For the little princess."
Etheron wrinkled his nose. "She's just a baby. She doesn't care about crowns."
"She will!" Liceriana laughed. "Every princess needs one. Even if she doesn't know it yet."
Near them, nestled safely in her nursemaid's arms, little Eclissa Lysara Aetheria cooed softly. Her tiny hands reached out for the dancing sunlight, gurgling with laughter at nothing at all.
Etheron sighed, picking up a daisy with clumsy fingers. "Fine. But mine will look weird."
"That's okay," Liceriana said warmly. "She'll love it because it's from you."
Patiently, she showed him how to weave the stems together — over and under, careful not to snap them. It took Etheron three tries (and a lot of frustrated muttering), but finally, he managed to tie the ends into a lopsided little crown.
It wasn't perfect.
But when they placed it gently atop Eclissa's soft curls, her bright eyes sparkled as she let out a happy squeal.
Etheron stared at her for a long moment, then smiled — a real, bright smile that melted even the morning's coolness away.
"See?" Liceriana whispered. "She knows."
In the heart of the garden, under the watchful sky, the three of them laughed together — a memory so small, and yet destined to linger far longer than any crown made of flowers.
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End of Mini Side Story