Luna's POV
My face felt like it was slapped by cold water. I sat up and gasped, spluttering and coughing. Princess Stella's dark magic made my entire body hurt, and my head felt like someone had struck it with a hammer.
Queen Ember's voice was as icy as ice: "Wake up, servant girl." "We must have a conversation."
My hands were tied behind my back as I sat on the floor in the throne room. With her red hair blazing from barely controlled fire magic, Queen Ember stood above me. Sitting on a chair close by, Princess Stella appeared serene and lovely, as if she hadn't just used dark magic on me.
"Your Majesty," I said, attempting to maintain a steady tone. "I didn't do anything improper. I had just finished serving drinks when—"
"Silence!" The room echoed with Queen Ember's shout. "You subjected my son to forbidden magic! His engagement party was interrupted by you! In front of our allies, you gave the impression that our entire kingdom was weak."
"I didn't intend to! "It was an accident."
"Accident?" The sound of Princess Stella laughing made my skin crawl. "We both know that wasn't an accident, Luna. Haven't you been organizing this for weeks?"
"What are you planning? I don't get it!"
Queen Ember said, "Don't lie to me," in an increasingly menacing tone. "You're collaborating with our adversaries. You tricked Prince Kai into believing he cared about you by using dark magic."
My heart fell. They genuinely believed that I was a spy or practitioner of dark magic. How could I explain that I had no better understanding of what had transpired than they did?
Desperately, I stated, "I'm not working with anyone." "All I am is a servant. I serve food and clean floors. I have no political or enemy knowledge."
Princess Stella said sweetly, "Then explain the magic." "Tell me how you, a weak little water mage, made spirit ice crystals that glowed with fire magic."
I realized she knew more than she was revealing when she used the phrase "spirit ice." Princess Stella had instantly recognized Master Orion's statement that spirit ice could only be made by strong mages.
"I don't know how I did it," I admitted honestly. "It just happened when I touched Prince Kai."
"Touched?" Anger flared in Queen Ember's eyes. "You were bold enough to touch the prince? You touched my son with your filthy servant hands."
"It happened by accident! We collided with one another."
"Lies!" Fire magic swirled around Queen Ember's fingers as she raised her hand. "This entire situation was planned by you. Have you not been observing him? attempting to approach him while following him around the palace."
"No! I have been staying away from him." Before I could stop them, the words were released.
"You acknowledge that you are aware of his identity. He has been on your mind." The grin of Queen Ember was frightening. "Have you been daydreaming about becoming more than your station? having aspirations of becoming more than a servant."
My face began to heat up. I had been having dreams about a different life, and she was right. Not the way she thought, though.
"Everyone dreams about a better life," I muttered. "I'm not a criminal because of that."
Princess Stella stated, "It does when you use dark magic to make those dreams come true." She got up and approached me with cat-like grace. "Luna, tell me how you learned to use water and fire magic together."
"I didn't find out about it. It just happened, I told you."
"Magic, especially powerful magic, doesn't 'just happen.'" Princess Stella crouched next to me, her face just inches away from mine. "You learned from someone. You had assistance from someone in organizing this."
Something about her smelled off to me, like flowers that had been dead for too long. Her eyes were too hungry and too bright.
She muttered, "Who else knows about your power?"
"I don't have any special power, so no one knows about any power!" Now I was starting to feel afraid. They were questioning me like I was a dangerous criminal, not just in a hostile manner.
Queen Ember said, "We'll see about that." "Guards!"
Captain Rex came into the room with two other guards. Despite his uneasy appearance, Captain Rex obeyed orders.
Queen Ember ordered, "Take her to the dungeons." "Place her in our deepest cell."
"Your Majesty," Captain Rex said cautiously, "maybe we should hold off until Prince Kai gets back before—"
Queen Ember yelled, "This girl's magic has enchanted my son." "He is currently unable to think clearly. I'm shielding him from her influence."
"Where is Prince Kai?" I inquired, feeling anxious all of a sudden.
Princess Stella smiled nefariously and said, "Far away from you." "Until we can figure out how to break whatever spell you put on him, he's been... secured."
"I didn't cast a spell on him!"
"Of course you did," said Princess Stella. "It is not natural for fire and water magic to coexist. They could only come together in that manner if they were coerced together by dark magic."
She was telling lies. I sensed it. However, I didn't know enough about magic to challenge her.
"Take her away," said Queen Ember.
The doors to the throne room suddenly flew open as the guards advanced on me. Master Orion hurried in, his face white with anxiety.
"Please, Your Majesty! This is a mistake."
Queen Ember's voice was dangerously quiet as she said, "Master Orion." "You're not welcome here."
Master Orion boldly declared, "Luna is not a dark magic user." "She is a decent girl who has been putting a lot of effort into learning magic correctly."
"Putting a lot of effort into learning magic?" Queen Ember raised her eyebrows. "You've been teaching magic to servant children without authorization?"
Master Orion's face turned pale. He had just confessed to violating one of the most significant laws of the kingdom.
He stumbled, "I... I was just helping them with basic lessons."
Princess Stella exclaimed, "Illegal magic lessons," with a delighted tone. "How fascinating. Master Orion, tell me, have you been teaching Luna any special methods? Maybe some old spells?"
"No! Nothing of that sort!"
Princess Stella, however, didn't seem to believe him. Like a cat observing a mouse, she was staring at him.
"You know what I think?" Princess Stella said as she slowly got to her feet. "Master Orion, I believe you've been looking for something. Something very particular. Something that would force you to teach servant children at the risk of breaking the law."
"I'm not sure what you mean."
"Don't you?" Princess Stella had a razor-sharp smile. "I believe you have been searching for the Phoenix Heart."
There was utter silence in the throne room. Master Orion's face turned gray instead of white.
Queen Ember stated, "The Phoenix Heart is just a legend," but her tone lacked conviction.
"Is it?" Princess Stella approached Master Orion. "Or did you find the ideal servant girl who combines fire and water magic and can make spirit ice?"
My blood froze. She was going to reveal everything. I was going to be in serious trouble, and so would Master Orion.
Princess Stella went on to say, "The Phoenix Heart is thought to be the strongest mage in history. Someone with complete control over the elements. Someone with the authority to govern the whole magical realm." She turned her hungry eyes on me. "Someone who, depending on who is in charge of her, could be very dangerous... or very useful."
With fresh insight, Queen Ember gazed at me. "You believe that the Phoenix Heart is this servant girl?"
"I believe that Luna is exactly what I've been searching for my entire life," Princess Stella said slowly.
I felt sick to my stomach when she said it. She wanted to use me, not destroy me.
I muttered, "What do you want?"
Princess Stella grinned more broadly. "Teach me how to steal Phoenix Heart magic, please. Additionally, if you don't..."
Dark magic swirled around her fingers as she raised her hand. It wasn't directed at me, though, this time. Master Orion was the target.
"I'll make sure the old man suffers for every second you make me wait if you don't cooperate," she said sweetly.