Prologue

3019, Aurora

​

    "You don't have the mark?" Raylene asked, her voice laced with expected shock and concern.

    Theodore nodded. He avoided his wife's eyes and looked through the balcony doors at the sky.

    "The one on your back—"

    "It's a tattoo."

    "Do you mean it's a ruse," she said, "that you've all been faking for centuries?"

    Tears lined her eyes, pleading for the truth. One he was responsible for. Unable to hold her gaze, he closed his own. The deception, the complicity, had become hers too.          "No."

    "Look at me," she commanded. "Face me and tell the truth, Theodore."

    Gathering enough strength to do so, he complied. "Only I did not manifest the mark." He kept this secret within the family. It had vanished a few weeks ago. Not only his mark—his father's had disappeared too, and yet somehow Raylene had manifested it. "But you do."

    "You don't, but I do?" she questioned. "What do you mean?"

    He knew she wouldn't have seen it. The mark sat on her blind spot, just behind her ear. He tapped his temple, and a panel bloomed in his mind: a phone-like interface, and the icons glowed faintly. He selected the image he'd taken a couple of days ago—when he noticed the mark for the first time—and pressed share. "See it for yourself," he said.

    Raylene blinked, and he understood the image flickered into place when she whipped her head to face him. She frowned. And she led her hands behind her right ear to feel the mark. Not that she would know from touch.

    "What do you mean?" she asked again. She sat on her knees beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder.

    "Behind your ear, you've the cherry blossom—"
    "The cherry blossom mark. Yes. I understand. But…how?" she murmured. "I don't get it…all the kings or queens who will reign the kingdom of Aurora manifest the mark on their 18th birthday."

    "Yes."

    "But you didn't, and I did?"

    It was a question directed to Theodore. He sighed. "No. I did."

    She nodded. "I was there at the revealing event. I saw the mark. The same one on your back."

    "No. I mean…I did manifest the mark, but it disappeared." Theodore ran a hand through his hair. "And before you ask why, we also do not know the reason for it. "He had mentioned this to his parents, and to his despair, they had no answer.

    "I don't know what to say." She released the hold on his shoulders and slid next to him. "Were you planning to keep me in the dark if the mark didn't manifest on me?"

    He had kept her in the dark. While he had many chances to reveal the truth, he didn't. Perhaps he didn't want her to know at all. If only Raylene hadn't manifested the mark, then she could have lived her life without knowing…sharing this burden with him. It could have been just his. Forever.

    "No. I was simply waiting for the right time," he lied. This situation was an anomaly. There weren't any known cases of the mark disappearing in the lineage. So nothing of this could be predicted.

    He faced her. Raylene picked at her nails and kept quiet.

    "I'm sorry for not telling you earlier." He held her hands. "You had—have every right to know this."

    Raylene had eyes fixed on the northern lights ahead. He wanted her to shout at him, to press him—why hadn't he told her the truth earlier? Why had he lied when she was to be his queen?

    A light fuzzy hum rose in his head, indicating a call, and his brother's voice echoed through.
 

    'Hey. Theo. Your suit is prepared for dinner. Shall I bring it to your room?'

    'Let me know when you're here,'  he replied.
 

    He was on his feet, walked to their wardrobe, and opened it. He pulled out the gown that Raylene would be wearing tonight. "Um…shall I help you get ready?" he asked, and laid the gown on the bed beside her.

    She would need time, he realized. What he'd said wasn't easy to digest either. He threaded carefully because he realized his mistake had been a grave one indeed.
 

    'I'm here, Theo.'
 

    "Kryz is here, I'll be back," he said, and stepped out.

    Raylene did not respond at all.

    Kryz waited for him in the corridor outside his bedchamber. "Here." He handed the suit bag. "You told her."

    It wasn't a question. Accepting the bag, Theodore nodded in agreement. "She probably hates me for lying."

    "You never lied."

    Kryz was right. He had simply withheld the complete truth from her; it was no better than lying. "I'll see you at the hall," Theodore said.

    "Darian is back," Kryz added. "We'll meet him at dinner."

    Back in the bedchamber, Theodore paused at the woman before the mirror. His wife. The one he got lucky to meet. "I knew I picked the right one," he whispered. Her gown mimicked the colors of the world—red, green, purple, and blue that mimicked the sky of Aurora. She hummed, a habit she'd picked up from him.

    She looked calmer, and he hoped she would set the mark aside for tonight and perhaps even tomorrow. As she turned to face him, he pulled her into a tight hug. "One year tomorrow since we've wed," he murmured. It has been two years since they'd met, and they've been together as long. Time had never waited in the long run, but in moments like these, something slow and wrenching as though time itself slowed down for them.

    "I love you." He kissed her forehead. "Shall we get started then? Hairdresser at your service, my lady."

    She chuckled. For the first time that evening, she smiled and hugged him. "I love you too, my lord."

    The truth can wait, and they've all the time in the world to discuss any predicaments.

 

***

Music and the rich aroma of food filled the air as Raylene and Theodore entered the dining hall. The light glowed softly from the chandeliers, casting an amber haze over the plates. In Aurora, partners sat together at any event, a sign that they were equals, and Theodore's parents reflected this custom by sitting together at one end of the table.
    Theodore bowed, offered formal pleasantries, and took his seat. His wife sat beside him. Opposite her sat Kryz, sipping champagne. Beside him was Darian—Theodore's second brother—who acknowledged his presence with a blink before turning to Raylene. His green eyes lingered a second too long on her before he turned away.

    Robot waiters moved in silence, their metallic arms gliding smoothly as they placed bruschetta on each plate. Everyone focused on their plates, and conversations were minimal. Theodore was used to it, and perhaps Raylene was too; she continued eating. But that didn't worry him.

    The sound of cutlery clinked, a melody interrupting the music that began to fade. King Rufus, Theodore's father, cleared his throat, drawing attention towards him.                      "Theodore, Raylene," he began, "your mother and I want to wish you both a happy anniversary."

    Queen Emzalia's gaze was ever so tender as she added, "Indeed. It feels like yesterday that we witnessed your wedding."

    Theodore reached under the table for Raylene's hand, squeezing it gently as a gesture of accord. "Thank you, father and mother." His wife smiled and nodded in unison.

    "It's also a special day to have Darian with us," the King continued, his eyes shifting to his middle son. "We understand you've returned from your travels."

    Darian smiled. "Yes, my work in Hanan was successful. King Yarden was pleased with the news."

    Hanan, the kingdom in the south, had its own king—King Yarden—and held the same ruling power as Aurora. Both kingdoms shared mutual respect and peace since their founding. Theodore remembered the old tale: the two kingdoms were founded by friends who each chose to rule one.

   
    'What was his travel about?' Raylene's voice echoed, a whisper in his head.

    'You'll know it in the next five minutes.'

    'Another surprise for me?' she scoffed.

    'Apologies, my wife. This is the last of it, but you must have expected it.'

    'Does King Yarden know about this mark?'

    'Of course, we share the history with the mark. You know it—'

    'No, I mean if they know about me manifesting the mark?'

     He pondered for a second. 'Yes.'

    Their silent conversation ended when King Rufus spoke again. "Then you're here at the most opportune moment." The King faced Theodore with a glint in his eye. "Today is the perfect occasion to announce our decision concerning the crown."
 

    'No way.' Raylene blurted through their neural connection, swallowing the bruschetta.

    Theodore did not let go of Raylene's hands, which were still intertwined under the table.

    "It is with great pleasure," the King declared, his voice authoritative and several notes higher than before, "that I officially name Theodore Aurore Verdigris and Raylene Viviane Verdigris as the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Aurora."
 

    'Indeed.' Theodore chuckled.
 

    Kryz offered a beaming smile, raising his champagne glass in a silent toast. Theodore felt Raylene grip his arm tighter. He should have given her a heads-up, but the announcement was something even she might have seen coming; after all, she married the eldest prince who'd been chosen by the Sovereign Mark.