Lucien's POV
Shit — I barely escaped them.
My breath came in ragged bursts as I flew through the cold night air, wings aching like they'd been set on fire. I'd been flying since morning — now it was night, and the sky was drowning in black.
Everything burned. My wings — my lungs.
But I couldn't stop.
Not yet.
I had to make it before they took Clara.
I had to reach the castle.
Without her, I can't go back. Without her — everything I did, every damn lie, every drop of blood — it'll all mean nothing.
If they get to her first
No. I won't let that happen.
Clara's POV
Ciel led me gently toward the center of the ballroom.
"Come, my love," he said with that disarming smile — sweet, warm, and confident, as if none of this felt strange to him. As if this was just another royal gathering, and not a moment wrapped in thorns and silence.
The marble beneath my bare feet felt too cold. The chandelier above us sparkled like a thousand watching eyes, and the music had faded into a distant hum.
Then someone stepped forward.
"Her Majesty," a voice said — deep and smooth, almost amused.
I turned slowly.
A man was approaching, dressed in fine dark green robes. He had soft blond hair, perfectly styled, and striking green eyes that held a strange familiarity. There was a polite, almost reverent smile on his face — but something sharp flickered beneath it.
"I know you don't remember me," he said kindly, "because of your memories... or rather, the lack of them."
I tensed.
My fingers instinctively found Ciel's arm. He didn't move — just stood beside me like a pillar of calm.
The man bowed slightly, then met my eyes again.
The man straightened with a smile that felt far too personal.
"My name is Uriel. You and I used to be very close, Your Majesty," he said gently. "You often visited my royal book hall... always looking for ancient myths and love stories. You loved them."
I blinked.
The words struck something inside me — not a memory, but a whisper of emotion. Like warmth from a fire I couldn't quite see.
"And this," he continued, turning slightly, "is my wife, Aliana... and our daughter, Regina."
I followed his gaze.
A beautiful woman with soft brown hair stood gracefully behind him, her eyes kind but cautious. At her side, half-hiding behind the folds of her mother's dress, was a little girl — no older than six. Her golden curls bounced as she peeked out at me with wide, curious eyes.
Then, before I could react, the girl trotted over.
She wrapped her tiny arms around my waist and hugged me like I was someone safe. Familiar. Loved.
"I missed you, Queen Serena," she whispered.
My heart lurched.
I didn't know this child. I didn't remember her smile. And yet — for a moment — I found myself kneeling and hugging her back.
Like my body remembered what my mind had lost.
I smiled gently at the little girl, staring into her innocent eyes as she clung to me.
"You often came to our house for dinner, Your Majesty," Uriel added with a warm smile — the kind that didn't feel forced. It felt genuine, like he truly cared.
"I really hope you regain your memories," he said softly, "so we can share those warm moments again."
Then he turned to the girl. "Come, Regina. We can talk to Her Majesty later."
The child ran into his arms without protest, giggling softly as he lifted her. He gave me one last respectful bow and walked away.
I couldn't help but watch them as they disappeared into the crowd. That warmth in my chest — it wouldn't go away. I tried shaking it off, tried to ignore it, but I couldn't.
The man's kind smile.
The little girl's hug.
It all felt... familiar.
And then, more people began to approach.
Farmers.
Business owners.
Storekeepers.
Even royals.
One by one, they introduced themselves to me — not with stiff formalities, but with soft eyes and warmth in their voices. Like they knew me. Like I mattered to them.
They treated me not as a stranger… but as one of them.
As someone they'd missed.
Someone who belonged.
After what felt like a hundred handshakes and greetings, Ciel gently took my hand and led me to the throne.
He guided me to the seat beside his, settling me into the place that was mine — yet still felt unreal.
I sat there, trying to hold myself together, but inside I was unraveling.
Before, all of this had felt like a performance — something distant and unfamiliar.
But now…
Now it didn't feel as scary.
Or as cold.
It felt familiar.
Like family.
I was still feeling heavy — confused and overwhelmed — when Ciel suddenly stood up.
"It's time for a special arrival from our guests," he announced, his voice bright with anticipation, his smile wide.
He looked… excited. Like he was expecting something extraordinary.
I blinked at him in confusion.
Then he turned to the guards and said firmly, "Open the doors."
A hush fell over the ballroom as the massive golden doors creaked open. The largest carriage I had ever seen slowly rolled in — plated with shining white and glimmering gold, almost too perfect to be real.
Gasps echoed across the room.
Everyone's faces lit up with curiosity and awe.
But then… Ciel's smile disappeared.
Something shifted in his eyes — his body going rigid.
"Something's wrong," he muttered under his breath.
His voice dropped, nearly inaudible, but I caught it. My stomach tightened.
I turned back to the carriage, just as tension rippled through the air like a chill.
Then — CRASH!
Glass shattered above us.
I looked up just in time to see a figure crash through one of the high stained-glass windows, shards raining down like stars.
Dark wings unfurled against the moonlit sky.
My breath caught.
He hovered for a moment, black feathers swirling in the air, and then he descended — slowly, deliberately.
As he looked up, the light revealed his face.
Lucien.
He looked straight at me — fear and panic etched deep into his face.
"Clara, run!" Lucien shouted. "They're here — they're going to take you!"
My body froze.
What? What was he talking about?
Before I could process it, Ciel stepped forward, his voice cold and sharp.
"You," he growled, eyes narrowing into glowing slits. "You're here."
Lucien's wings were spread wide as he hovered just above the shattered glass, but I barely heard them. I stood up, my legs moving on instinct, trying to run to him—trying to understand.
Then—BOOM!
The carriage below exploded open.
Dozens of figures burst out — each one with the same dark, sweeping wings as Lucien, their eyes glowing with a strange light, magic humming around them.
They came straight at me.
"Stay behind me!" Ciel shouted, stepping in front of me as his hands glowed with fire and shadow. He began blasting them with fierce, burning magic.
Jason appeared from behind, blades drawn, tearing through the winged attackers, but there were too many. Too fast.
I could see it in their eyes — they weren't just protecting me. They were struggling. Trying to hold back chaos while keeping the ballroom safe.
Screams rang out across the hall. Nobles ducked, children cried, glass rained from the ceiling.
One of the winged attackers swooped low — too fast for me to react — and grabbed me from behind.
I gasped, but then a blast of pure light slammed into him.
Lucien.
He landed near me, his face flushed with panic.
"Run!" he yelled again.
I didn't hesitate this time. I turned and ran.
"Your Majesty, this way!" a voice called.
It was Lila.
She grabbed my hand, pulling me through a side hall, our footsteps pounding down the corridor as the world behind us dissolved into fire and wings and screams.
But before we could get very far, something grabbed me.
I screamed — the creature yanked me by my clothes, trapping me in its arms as it took off into the air. I was torn from the corridor, flying helplessly above the hall.
"Ciel!" I cried out, thrashing in panic.
His head snapped up. "Serena!" he roared, wings flaring as he launched into the sky, fire and darkness swirling around him.
But the creature holding me twisted, using my body as a shield, forcing Ciel to hesitate. More winged attackers swarmed in, slamming into him midair, cutting him off.
"Clara!" Lucien's voice cracked through the chaos, pure anguish. He tried to rise, but more of them piled on him, dragging him back down.
I watched it all in horror — the ballroom torn apart, fire and screams and magic colliding as I was carried away, helpless.
Tears blurred my vision. I kicked, screamed, fought with everything I had — but his grip was iron.
"Let me go!" I cried, over and over.
But the sky swallowed me.
I was dragged into the cold, open night — screaming, breaking, vanishing from the castle lights — as everything fell behind me.