Fate's Prisoners

chapter 34

Luna

I sat in my room waiting for my mother.

Dear mother

It's me Luna, your daughter. I am very sorry I have not spoken to you in so long but I just didn't know how to after what happened. Years ago I left Won and moved to Oden without almost anyone knowing. It was stupid but I did and I can't tell you sorry enough. Everything happened so fast I didn't have time to come to see you or to send you a message that I was leaving. I hope you will eventually forgive me but I want to come to see you and introduce you to a new family member. While in Oden I gave birth to a beautiful son named Leon. He is the youngest son if the Emperor and wants to meet you. I hope to hear from you soon.

Love

Luna

I took a deep breath as I finished then headed to send it out. While walking, I ran into prince Xander. Leon is currently in class so Xander must be board. "Prince Xander, what are you doing here?" I asked kneeling next to him. "I don't have anything to do." He says. "Well, Leon is in class right now. How about you ask the Emperor to play with you for now." I suggested. "I don't think he has time. " "well you never know unless you ask. Come I will go with you to ask." I held out my hand. "Leon's mother were you not busy?" He asked. "I was just mailing a letter to my home. I can do it later." I assured him with a gentle smile. We walked hand and hand to the throne room where the Emperor was not but the Empress mother was. "Eh, Scholar Luna and prince Xander. I think you two got mixed up." She says getting up. "Your grace, Prince Xander is searching for the Emperor. I thought he was still in here, I apologize." "It's fine. Why are you looking for the Emperor ?" She questions curiously? "Grandmother I want to play but Leon is in class." He says with a pout. "Well, why don't you play with Leon's mother?" "I would love to play with the prince, but I worry his mother would not be fond of the idea." The Empress mother understood my worry." I see we wouldn't want to have to deal with her. Well, the Emperor is in his room you should look there." She says. We bowed then left the throne room and headed to the Emperor 's together.

Our arrival was announced and like his mother, the Emperor was surprised to see me and Xander together. "What happened?" He asked worriedly something may be wrong. "Your majesty, I ran into prince Xander while on my way to send my letter to my mother. He told me he had no one to play with and Leon is in class right now. I suggested he come to play with you, but he didn't want to disturb you. Do you have any time to spare to play with the little prince at least until his brother gets out of class for the day?" I asked the Emperor while holding the prince's shoulder. "Of course I do, Xander how would you like to go fly a kite with me today?" Xander was excited. "Auntie, will you join us?" He asked. "Maybe later dear, I still must send this letter out. You go have fun." The two left me in the room alone, normally I would walk straight out but something caught my eye. As I walked more towards the center of the room, on the screen in front of the bed I could see a tapestry of myself. I couldn't be new because I haven't sat for any portraits on my own at least. "Why would the Emperor have such a tapestry?" I ran my fingers over it gently before letting my hand fall. In my other hand was my letter and I remembered what I was doing so I left.

A few days later

A letter returned to the palace from my mother and I was in tears just hear from her again.

Luna

Where on earth have you been? What makes you think it's okay to run away to who knows where and stays there for so long. I need to know everything that happened and you need to know what happened here after your father left. I will be expecting you soon and bring my grandson with you.

Mother.

With the okay, I began to prepare for the trip. I asked Liluo and Lucas to stay behind because I didn't want anyone to think I was going anywhere I wasn't supposed. I went to tell the Emperor and was surprised that he wanted to go with us. He said he had received a letter about a problem in a neighboring town that is only a 2-hour ride from where we needed to go. A few days later we set off together in the Emperor 's carriage. Leon was excited to see a new area and with many of the spots, the Emperor and I would show him around.

Youngbae

It was getting darker and it was time for us to eat. We stopped in a small town where it was quite lively at the moment. Luna and I walked both with one if Leon's hands until we found a nice place to eat. Like last time we dressed in normal clothing to not get too much attention. I got up to go pay leaving Luna and Leon alone at the table. I was gone for a minute but when I came back I saw a man sitting next to Luna and Luna moving away from him and pushing Leon as well. He was obviously bothering them but Luna didn't want to do anything that could cause Leon any danger. I walked over and pulled the man away from them. "What are you doing to my wife and son?!" I asked the man angrily. Because I dressed as a commoner he didn't hesitate to act rudely. "Wife? How did you get such a goddess huh, what do you have a lot of money? I bet not as much as me. How about we fight for her, you win I leave her alone if you lose I take her." "I will not fight you because I shouldn't have to fight you to leave my wife alone. Also, she is not a betting object that we are allowed to fight for. Her decision is hers to make not mine and most certainly not yours. Let's go." I told the two who got up and I let them walk in front of me so the man wouldn't just grab them. Luna held Leon so he was not touched and we headed out but when we got outside the man was followed us. He grabbed my shoulder and spun me around with his fist ready to punch me but before he could I caught his hand. He was surprised but then tried to attack me again. I was able to hold him still but I didn't want Leon to see anything too violent. "Luna, take Leon back to the carriage and wait for me there. I'll be there in a bit." I said Luna nodded and quickly left to the carriage with Leon. When they were gone I started to fight with the man. It wasn't long because the man didn't know who he was messing with. It only took a few moves and it was over.

I hurried back to the carriage to make sure Luna and Leon were okay and thankfully they were. When I arrived, I was hugged by Luna to my surprise. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine what about you two?" I asked looking from her to Leon then back to her. "We're fine, he didn't touch us." She says still holding my arms gently. "We should get out of here and find a place to rest for the night and head out in the morning." Luna only agreed and we all got back into the carriage. We road until the next town and checked into an inn. In the room, Leon had fallen asleep as soon as he hit the bed. Luna had stayed up with me to make sure I was okay no matter how many times I told her I was. She checked me for any bruises but I had none. I guess she felt bad I had to defend them but I could let anything happen to them. "Luna, have you been adjusting to the palace well?" "It feels like I never left beside a few things." She says I smiled. "Well that's good, I have been meaning to talk to you about Leon," I said remembering something. "What about him?" "Well, Leon is my son so it only seems fair to have him compete for the title of Crown Prince with Xander." She looked a bit surprised. "Your majesty, it's an honor but I don't really want my son to be Crown prince." "Why not, he has a chance to become Emperor." "I know but I don't want Leon to be under such pressure. He is only a child but if he becomes crown prince he will be given a lot more responsibility and won't really have the chance to live a peaceful life. To me, the throne was never a priority like it is to many people of the palace. I never wanted to be Empress because it is a demanding job as well. I just want you to be able to be with Leon and for me to be able to bring him up well in the palace." She explained with a small smile. "I have not picked a crown prince yet because they are both still young. However, I want to pick the most deserving to be the crown prince. If it is Leon, I hope you will not object." "If you pick my son, it would be an honor. I would just have to work even harder to protect him from the dirty players in the palace." She says before she gets up and excuses herself to bed for the night. To be able to be so peaceful with her feels wonderful. I can feel her opening up slowly but I still have a way to go.