Claiming His Luna

Cercei’s POV

“He had no involvement in this matter; it’s entirely on me,” my mother attempted to clarify once more.

“Mamà, he’s deeply involved in this,” I interjected firmly.

“And why do you consistently stand up for him?” Irritation tinged my words. Lucian garnered all of her approval, leaving me with nothing. I’m not aiming to be childish, but her constant support for him is incredibly irritating.

“I’m merely suggesting that Lucian is an admirable Alpha. He carried out every task I assigned to him,” she asserted. I couldn’t help but scoff. Right, the King of the North obediently executed her every command. The roles seem blurred now, I can’t quite tell who’s serving whom.

“Mamà, I’ve already forgiven you. Can we end this conversation?” I appealed.

“And what are your intentions now, Cers?” Her tone shifted to seriousness. I clamped my lips shut. The truth is, I have no idea.

“I honestly don’t know,” I responded candidly.

“Please refrain from rash actions. Let us plan things properly. I acknowledge the impact of what you’ve discovered; it concerns your very identity. But please, don’t engage in anything reckless,” my mother urged. A hollow laugh escaped me.

“When have I ever acted recklessly?” I inquired.

“I’ve heard you’ve been engaging in impulsive behaviour recently,” I added hastily, inadvertently revealing the information I’d gathered. Her eyebrows arched. Of course, Lucian had casually mentioned that he’s practically become best pals with my mother now.

“I need some rest,” I quickly added, wrapping up the conversation. She took a deep breath before nodding. A subtle smile appeared on her lips as she tucked me in.

“Rest well, Chéri. I need to get back to my mission. I won’t be away for too long.” She pressed a kiss on my forehead. I pretended to be asleep as she left. As the door closed, my eyes opened again.

I needed my mother to leave so I could think properly. Her presence only ends up overwhelming me with guilt.

Staying immobile is simply not an option. Who could possibly remain still after the explosion of revelations that has just occurred? The knowledge that Monsieur is my biological father doesn’t change my disgust for him or for Vienna. Nevertheless, my mother did a remarkable job raising me, together with my father, Henrì.

I will talk to them and work towards resolving this conflict. Many people don’t need to suffer or die in vain. I understand Lucian’s desire for revenge as they took away his mother’s life.

However, there must be a path to peace, a means to restore balance. It’s up to me to pave that path.

I pressed the button situated on the bedside table, the small yet significant signal to request help. I was keenly aware of who would be answering this call for assistance.

Maria cautiously cracked the door open, her entrance accompanied by a tangible unease. As she drew nearer, her eyes stayed lowered, displaying reluctance.

“Do you need anything, Cers?” Her voice was soft, almost unsure. Slowly, she lifted her eyes, meeting my calm yet persistent expression.

“Yes, answers that can clear up my doubts,” I articulated, making her swallow nervously.

“Why?” I questioned with a stern voice.

“Why did you lie to me? How could you maintain that dishonesty?” I posed another question, a hint of sorrow in my voice. The motivations were clear; she had been following my mother’s instructions, just like everyone else. I doubted Maria truly understood the full extent of the truth until she departed from the mansion. Yet, I believed she had some clue. As I had previously mentioned, the remarkable similarity between Vienna and myself could not have been overlooked.

“I’m sorry,” Her tears flowed freely, a flood of remorse. She knelt beside my bed, her hand gripping mine.

“Forgive me, my best friend. I was ordered to keep my mouth shut, even when the temptation to say ‘I told you so’ was too overwhelming for me,” she sought my forgiveness between her apologies. I couldn’t help but chuckle at her unmistakably Maria-like response. Over the years of our friendship, she never stopped pointing out the striking resemblances between Vienna and me, often teasing me that Vienna and I would likely be sisters. In a twist of fate, that joke held an unexpected truth.

“Hush, I will grant you forgiveness.”

“Really?” She lifted her head, which had been nearly brushing the back of my hand.

“Provided that…” I let the word hang, observing her reaction. She blinked her eyes, waiting for me to continue.

“Provided that you could bring Vienna to me, of course, without Lucian and Frank knowing,” I clarified.

Hesitation was evident on her face. “Cercei…”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Or perhaps not. I have enough resentment to nurture an eternal grudge,” I withdrew my hand from her grip and turned my face away.

“Fine,” after a brief resistance, she yielded, inhaling deeply. I shifted my focus back to her with a smirk.

“But only for an hour or two,” she reminded me quickly, her anxiety was apparent.

“That will do,” I nodded. That’s enough time for me.

“Thank you so much, Maria. You are really great,” I conveyed my gratitude, a smile forming on my lips.

“You’re not mad at me anymore?” She asked, voice hinting with worries.

“I never really was,” I chuckled, and she instantly playfully slapped my arm.

“Ouch,” I let out a pained groan. An intricate array of needles and tubes were attached to me, a constant reminder of my current condition.

“Sorry,” Maria’s voice carried a hint of remorse, her lower lip caught between her teeth.

“I’m deeply sorry, Cers,” her tone shifted, becoming sincere. She seated herself on the edge of my bed.

“I understand the extent of suffering you’ve endured at the hands of those who, ironically, turned out to be your family,” she said seriously, her voice carrying empathy and a touch of kindness.

“Yeah,” I responded, my words brief but filled with complicated emotions.

“I will always be here beside you for the rest of our lives,” her smile held a touch of joy, and I returned it, a silent recognition of her loyalty.

I understand, I truly do. But right now, I’m not even sure if I have a firm grip on my own identity. A significant part of me feels like it’s shattered, and I’m eager to rebuild it using the solid foundation of truth.

The drive for peace and the mending of relationships isn’t the only reason why I want to talk with Monsieur. I’m eager to question him about his actions, to understand why he orchestrated the events he did. I already know the answer, but I intend to hear it directly from him. I want to confront him bravely as his daughter, to make him realise that I know his misdeeds against my mother, and tell him that I already knew he was my father. Maybe this was his scheme all along, and perhaps he sent Vienna here to distract Lucian. No matter what he schemed, I won’t allow him to succeed.

All I yearn for is to face him, to ask the questions whose answers I already know. I wanted to face him alone, I deserved all the explanation, and I swear to end his cruelty.