A short while later, inside Basilika’s workroom—after the kisses she had playfully planted on me—the conversation finally circled back to business.

  “Take this picture with you. Give it to Queen Selena and that girl Charlotte to study.”

  Basilika rolled the picture neatly, tied it up, and handed it to me.

  “You don’t need it anymore, Silika?” I asked as I received it.

  “No, I’m bored of looking at it. Besides… take this too.”

  From a green magic circle, Basilika drew out a gem—an exquisitely carved hexagonal emerald.

  A luxurious black frame wrapped around the stone, its dark patterns coiling like a serpent. The gem’s clarity was breathtaking.

  “Silika… this is… are you really giving it to me?” I asked in disbelief.

  “The Royal Basilisk Emblem. With this, you can move around here freely again, just like before."

  “If anyone says you're fake or reactive, just say you're entrusted by me now.” Basilika smiled happily at me, as if she was thinking about something else.

  “Thank you. I’ll take good care of it.”

  I opened a magic circle and stored everything inside. Basilika was stroking her tail again. Seeing that, she added teasingly:

  “Good grief, you say you’ll take good care of my things, yet you dare shove them away like that?”

  “Hey, Witch Bags are extremely safe. I am storing your things carefully,” I said, pretending to be annoyed to match her joke.

  “You sure no scissors or sewing needles in there, right, silly bird?”

  We glared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. Basilika relaxed, lovingly pampering her tail without a care in the world.

  “By the way… now that I look around, where are all your snakes, Silika?”

  Only then did I notice—her room lacked the usual presence of her pet serpents.

  “They’ve grown up and left. I released them back into nature,” she said quietly—just a hint of loneliness in her voice.

  “You’re not raising another brood?”

  “No. The last one is already hunting on her own.” There was pride mixed in with her bittersweet tone.

  I stretched, fixing long hair Basilika had messed up earlier, tying it with the pearl band on my right wrist. She watched every motion without blinking.

  “You really love showing off, silly bird. Anyway… there are still people here who don’t despise you.

  If you go to the music districts, and spot a mermaid dressed like a dancer playing a water harp—that’s the person I meant. Atlan Tissa.”

  “Thank you, Silika. That’s genuinely good news.”

  Basilika clicked her tongue inwardly.

  Time passed. I glanced at the entrance, thinking of Charlotte—probably bored stiff by now. Just as I was about to say goodbye, I remembered unfinished matters and stayed a little longer.

  “Silika… do you remember the old negotiations? When Queen Selena and I came to sign the peace treaty?”

  “Yes. And no, not yet. The timing’s delicate. Think up your terms first.”

  She dismissed it casually.

  I curtsied and turned toward the door. Just as I reached it, Basilika spoke again:

  “Hey, little bluebird—send Charlotte in for me. Just a few words.”

  “Alright.”

  When I stepped out, I found Charlotte doodling on the sleeping Water Dragon guards. Their faces were a mess of ink markings. I sighed silently.

  “Big sis, you were talking forever. I’ve been waiting so~ long,” Charlotte said as she hugged me tightly.

  “Has anyone come by?”

  “Nope! Peaceful to the point of boredom,” she whined.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  I stroked her head. Having her as my cousin… sometimes it really made me feel like I had a little sister to take care of.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting. You’ll get to have your fun soon. Basilika wants to talk to you privately. I’ll wait for you outside.”

  “No problem. I still haven’t had the chance to talk with that Queen anyway,” she said cheerfully.

  “Mind your manners. Be like with Queen Selena. And tone down the jokes,” I reminded her gently.

  Charlotte went in, and I stayed outside, cleaning the guards’ faces with my rose-scented handkerchief. When the door closed behind her, Charlotte found herself face-to-face with Basilika. The queen rose from her chair and approached her.

  “So… this is Twilight Luminous, the unofficial second princess of the Luminous Royal Family in the Golden Capital.”

  “Your intel’s impressive. Not many people know that title. Either that… or Celeste told you,” Charlotte replied coolly.

  Neither backed down. Charlotte showed a side of herself—calculating, subtly challenging. Basilika scoffed uncaringly.

  “I called you here for one thing. If you dare infiltrate my administrative rooms again—” A spear pointed at Charlotte’s throat.

  “…and tamper with all the surveillance devices, you’d better watch yourself. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”

  “My apologies, Your Majesty. It won’t happen again.” Charlotte lowered her head.

  Basilika stared for a moment before reluctantly lowering her spear.

  “For Celeste’s and Queen Selena’s sake, I won’t take your life.”

  “One more thing—don’t trust Lyudmila too much. Don’t work with her again.”

  “Is something wrong, Your Majesty?”

  “She has too much information. That dragon plays far too many sides.”

  Despite the warning, Charlotte only smiled cheerfully, as if nothing could faze her.

  Overly optimistic… That’s what makes her dangerous. As the intel stated… Basilika’s tail flicked slightly.

  “That’s intelligence work. Mobile gold mines of information. Still, thank you for the warning.”

  “Whatever. You may go.”

  Charlotte bowed and left. Outside, the guards had already been cleaned and arranged neatly.

  “Everything went well?” Celeste asked.

  “You wiped their faces already? Aw, and here I was looking forward to that reaction. But yes, everything’s fine.” Charlotte looped her arm through mine.

  “Now tell me what you and she talked about!”

  “Let’s discuss it outside.”

  We later returned to the sunlit city above the sea. Salty winds stirred through the midday air. People chatted and laughed over lunch. Dragon guards snoozed upright, dozing lazily in the warmth.

  “It makes sense now. That Queen carries far more than we thought. And being up here feels so much better. I’m not going back down there anytime soon.” Charlotte stretched, enjoying the afternoon atmosphere.

  “What a lovely sunlight.”

  Charlotte smiled and chatted with me carefree as we walked through the city, she chatted innocently without paying any attention to her surroundings.

  “Her mother must’ve been a terrifying tactician. And they clearly hate each other.”

  “I heard the fallen kingdom of Waltzienstein is ruled by a giant she-serpent hogging the royal throne—that must be her mother.”

  “That place is swarming with monsters and constant war. Hey big sis, how about we go meet her?”

  I flicked her forehead. She yelped, rubbing her head with an embarrassed grin. I couldn’t help laughing too.

  “I’ll hand you to Miss Youko or Queen Selena if you dare.”

  “Hehe… just joking. Don’t be mad, big sis, or the people here might get roasted,” Charlotte teased.

  “You included.” I added another line to Charlotte's joke, and we both laughed at each other for a while.

  Charlotte unfurled her amber wings and tail—glittering like sunlit gemstones—and rose into the sky.

  “Let’s go home, big sis. I’m starving.”

  “Yes. Marinette and Claire have waited long enough.” I spread my wings and took off after her.

  “Claire… looks like you’ve made another friend already.” Together, we flying toward Chanson de Lune.

  Far from Mare Star Palatium, aboard a luxurious wooden ship, Lyudmila clashed with Puppeteer—dragon scales against blades, frost painting the deck into a crystalline masterpiece.

  “Stalking from the shadows, sneaking onto my ship, and picking a fight… you really love playing detective, intelligence girl,” Puppeteer taunted.

  “What were you doing at Mare Star Palatium? Speak,” Puppeteer teasing Lyudmila.

  “Can’t say. And you should know your place.”

  They exchanged elegant, deadly strikes—icy winds dancing around them like an ephemeral work of art.

  “You’re no better—manipulating everyone, Puppeteer the Puppet Assassin. No one wants you here.”

  “Oh? So you think you can arrest me? Or did someone… finally put their faith in you?”

  “I don’t need faith. Everyone schemes. And what about me? What about my clan in this ocean?!” Her shout churned the sea in fury.

  Puppeteer just stood there looking at Lyudmila angrily, a bone-chilling wind blew past them both. Lyudmila's eyes showed anger - but not towards anyone.

  “Letting emotions into your work is intel taboo number one,” Puppeteer said calmly.

  “And strangely enough… shouldn’t you be venting at your Fang leaders instead?”

  “Venting at them… maybe. But dragons have their own rules. And I hate those rules.” Lyudmila clenched her fists.

  Puppeteer smirked, signaled the captain to continue forward, and walked to the ship’s bow. The frost melted into water. Wind carried the vessel onward. Standing beside Lyudmila, she gazed up at the sky.

  “Wow. Look like you hate the whole heavens. Want to tell me your sorrows?”

  “Not to you.”

  “Suit yourself. This voyage will be long. You okay staying on land this long?”

  “For a while. I’ll leave back after.”

  The ship drifted toward Chanson de Lune. Both women separated to opposite ends, silent.

  Back in Basilika’s room, the guards woke up abruptly.

  “H—huh? Where—?”

  “Charge—!”

  “Stop—!”

  They were confused, groggy, some instinctively reenacting their unfinished actions from earlier. Basilika looked down at them, unimpressed.

  “Finally awake? Planning to ditch your duties by sleeping this long?”

  “N-N-N-Your Majesty…!” They panicked, bowing awkwardly.

  All of you dragons got knocked out by two little birds… how embarrassing.

  After cleaning up and gathering themselves, they bowed and left for duty once again.

  『 Lyudmila… was this what you wanted? 』

  Basilika looked at the back of the guard, a feeling of nostalgia flashed in her heart.

  She turned toward the distant sea beyond the glass. The door closed, leaving the room silent, filled with vials, instruments, and her solitude.

  Starias Realms – Sanctus Lunae Kingdom, Ninth Ascension

  Long ago, within the pristine palace bathed in moon-white radiance—The Celestial Thousand-Star Palace of Queen Selena, lauded for its beauty and divinity—

  Soft ivory walls reflected the night sky. Moonlight draped everything in a miraculous glow. Crystal curtains shimmered like falling stars, ring a lovely sound like a mother songs. The gardens of Little Angel and Lacrima Lunae perfumed the realm with gentle elegance.

  “Mother, we missed you,” Luna and Arianna said, Luna’s voice calm and steady, tinged with soft melancholy.

  The twins cuddled against Queen Selena—the woman with flowing white hair like rippling moonlight, wearing a pure white gown and crystalline tail motif.

  “They still cling to you like baby birds, Selena,” Libra teased gently.

  She wore a white nun dress adorned with feather-like details, her black hair braided neatly.

  “I’ve left you two lonely for too long. I’m here now.” Selena stroked their heads.

  “Stay with us for a long time, Mother, you and Miss Libra,” Arianna raised her face to look at Selena.

  “I'm fine, it's just… I miss the time when your father was here,” she reassured her children.

  Selena and Libra played with the twins. Old memories, sweet and bittersweet, flickered within Selena’s heart.

  “Mother, are you sad?” Arianna looked up.

  “Don’t be sad. We’re right here,” Luna comforted her mother.

  “I’m fine. It just… remembered the days when your father was with us.”

  “Selena, don’t push yourself,” Libra pat her friend.

  Selena smiled softly. Arianna pointed upward—toward the sparkling stars, twinkling as if laughing with them.

  “A night this beautiful needs a starlight carriage and a comet shower. What a pity,” Luna sighed.

  “The Eternity and the Serenity Gods aren’t traveling tonight. Still, the blessings of Starias are shining beautifully,” Libra said.

  “ Is busy with something, Miss Libra?” Luna asked.

  Luna spoke up, Arianna looked at her with beautiful pearly eyes, full of curiosity. Seeing that, Libra smiled softly and replied to both of them:

  “Falling stars may look pretty, but they’re dangerous. So when you see a meteor shower, pray that no misfortune falls upon the land they touch.”

  “I see… Thank you for teaching us,” the twins replied.

  They gazed at the stars in silence. Selena breathed in the peaceful moment.

  Later, they all lay together in bed. Arianna held Selena’s hand, Luna pulled the blanket over her sister. The fragrance of flowers drifted in the air.

  “Goodnight, Mother. Goodnight, Miss Libra,” the twins murmured before drifting to sleep.

  “Sweet dreams,” Selena whispered, kissing their cheeks.

  “Goodnight to you two, and to all Starias Realms,” Libra added softly.

  Selena watched her daughters sleep, memories rising once more.

  “Remember? Lilianna used to say you’d make a wonderful mother. And look—she was right,” Libra teased.

  “I remember. And yes… she really was right.”

  “We got old fast, didn’t we? All four of us have heirs now.” Selena looked at her daughters with boundless love.

  The two joked gently with each other, Arianna suddenly opened her eyes, she hugged Selena tightly with her lovely blue eyes.

  “I heard everything. Mother is always the best mother.”

  "Sorry my dear daughter, okay, let's sleep together, no more talking."