Two Princesses, One Throne

Chapter 2

“What is the meaning of this?”

Raquel caught everyone’s attention and upon seeing almost an identical face, Queen Elena and King Ulysses have identified her as Astra’s twin; Raquel.

“You must be Raquel?” said the Queen about to give Raquel a hug but Raquel stepped back.

“Raquel, you’re here.” Raquel looked at Edward betrayed.

“How could you do this to me, Edward?” Raquel said on the verge of tears which made Astra frown.

“Raquel---“ Astra tried to approach her sister but Raquel pushed her away with Edward automatically catching her.

“How could you!!! Both of you!!! Edward, you said your mate is someone like me, you said even if she is not your mate you’ll still love her-----“ then the realization came into Raquel’s mind. Astra was the first to meet Edward and he was talking about her all along. It was never her all along.

“Raquel, don’t tell me----“

“Yes, Astra. He was the man I’ve been telling you about.” Astra reached out for her sister to comfort her but Raquel used her magic to push Astra away.

“You stay away from me you traitor.” Raquel growled with anger.

“Raquel, stop it.” Edward said making Raquel laugh sarcastically. “Is she been acting like a weak little woman in front of you Edward? Between the two of us? Astra is the monster.”

“Raquel, what’s happening to you?” Astra asked her eyes almost filled with tears. She’s never seen her sister like this before and she never knew that Edward was the man who Raquel loves.

“Edward happened to me and you? YOU BETRAYED ME.” Raquel answered. Astra’s eyes grew wide upon seeing darkness behind Raquel. The darkness is slowly corrupting Raquel’s soul.

“Raquel, calm down.” Astra tried to console her sister but it only angered Raquel even more.

“NO!!!” darkness erupted from within Raquel and that was when the guardians appeared.

“What happened?” Marco asked Astra the moment he saw Raquel.

“I don’t know.” Astra answered confused.

“Raquel, my dear, stop this.” Aqua tried to calm Raquel down and tried to purify her corrupt heart but the darkness has fully claimed Raquel which only meant one thing.

“Raquel has been embracing darkness for a long time.” Aera said which made Astra frown. “What?”

“I’ll be back for you Astra.” That was the last thing Raquel said before she disappeared into the darkness.

~~~5 years later~~~

It’s been almost four years since Astra married Edward and they have ruled the Kingdom of Magic together. After the incident five years ago, they never heard anything from Raquel anymore but the guardians are helping them with the search.

Astra woke up when she felt the light of the sun from the open curtains. Opening her eyes, she saw her husband sleeping with his face buried in the pillow. Astra smiled and sat up on their bed but then the light from her right palm caught her attention. Astra’s eyes grew wide, her eyes almost had tears in them and she smiled.

“Edward, wake up.” Astra called her husband shaking his body to wake him up. Edward grunted, wrapping an arm around his wife’s waist.

“Edward.” Astra called again and this time Edward peeked through the pillow with his one eye out.

“What is it?” Edward asked and when his eye landed on Astra’s glowing palm, Edward automatically sat up from bed, fully awake.

“You’re carrying our child.” Astra nodded happily and Edward hugged her tight.

“Come on let’s go. Let’s take you to the Garden of Life.” Edward and Astra went to the Garden of Life unexpectedly early that it surprised the new caretaker Ardeth.

“Your majesties, what took you her in this early morning?” Ardeth asked upon seeing them.

“We can’t wait till later Ardeth.” Edward answered then Astra showed her him Astra’s palm.

“The Queen is carrying a seed. Finally, you have an heir my King.” Ardeth took Astra’s hand and did a circular motion with his hand over Astra’s palm then a small bud of red rose came out from Astra’s palm and the glowing stopped.

It floated all the way up to the rest of the rosebuds and Astra smiled as she stared at her seed. “I can’t wait for three months.” Astra whispered.

“Congratulations your majesties. It seems like you’re gonna have a daughter.” Ardeth greeted as he watched the King and Queen’s seed.

“How did you know?” Astra asked.

“If it’s a white rose then the child is a male, if it’s red then it is a female.” Ardeth answered.

Using her magic, Astra gave half of her powers to her daughter to protect her until the day of her birth.

From a distance, Raquel watched as Astra and Edward smiled as they gaze upon their daughter. Raquel gritted her teeth with anger.

“Their daughter will become the future Queen of the Kingdom of Magic.” One of Raquel’s servant commented.

Raquel snorted as she replied, “She will be if there’s no one else.”

Closing her eyes, a black shadow covered Raquel’s body and as it disappears, she looked at her servant and asked, “Do I look like her?”

“Very much, mistress.”

Raquel suddenly disappeared and when she opened her eyes she was now standing outside the castle. Looking around, she walked into the castle sneakily.

At the same moment, Astra and Edward are walking back into their room when Astra saw a woman wearing a black cloak outside the castle grounds.

“Edward, why don’t you go back to our room first?” Astra said which made Edward frown. “Why?”

“I just need to check on something. It will be quick, I promise. I’ll be right over and when I do……..” Astra walked closer to her husband seductively biting her lip as she whispered, “…….maybe we could make a son, right after?”

“Just go ahead.” Edward said but the gesture turned him on.

Edward stopped by the kitchen to get breakfast for Astra. It took him almost twenty minutes as he prepared his wife’s breakfast and as he reached their room, he was surprised to see Astra lying on the bed. “I told you I’ll be quick and where have you been?” Astra asked.

“Breakfast?” Edward held the tray of food up but Astra rolled over to the bed and said, “Breakfast can wait. I promised you a son didn’t I?” Placing the tray on the table, Edward took off his clothes and lay on the bed with his wife.

Astra’s been looking around the castle grounds for almost thirty minutes. She was sure that the woman in a black cloak was her sister but she can’t find her anywhere. Sighing, Astra decided to go back to Edward who was waiting for her in their room.

As she got nearer, Astra frowned when she felt someone else’s presence in the room, opening the door she was surprised to see the scene before her. Edward was with a woman who looks exactly like her and right then she knew it was Raquel.

Seeing his wife standing by the door, Edward frowned and he pushed the woman beside him away. “Who are you?”

“You came in such a wrong time sister. Edward was asking for another round before you came in.” Raquel said and that was when her real appearance showed.

Edward rushed over to his wife and said, “I’m sorry Astra, I didn’t know. I thought it was you. I’m sorry.” Edward knelt in front of Astra and asked for forgiveness.

Raquel smiled almost victoriously but seeing how much Edward begged for Astra’s forgiveness pained her.

“I know it’s not your fault Edward.” Astra pulled Edward up and she stood in front of him blocking him from her sister.

“I knew you were here but I never thought you will do something like this. Are you that desperate Raquel?” Astra asked which made Raquel laugh.

“No----“ Raquel was about to say more but then her palm started glowing. “Oh, would you look at that.”

“That’s not possible.” Astra was shaking her head as she looks at her twin’s glowing palm.

“It is possible dear sister. I used my power to increase the chances of pregnancy and I can also increase the speed of my child’s growth.” Right then, Raquel’s body started to disappear leaving Astra and Edward.

“I’m sorry Astra. I’m sorry.”

Astra cupped Edward’s face and said, “Never say sorry Edward. It is not your fault.”

~~~~~

Two months since Raquel tricked Edward, he’s been trying to make it up to Astra by devoting almost all of his time, love, and effort to her. Astra never felt angry or betrayed by what happened but for Edward, it only makes him feel worse.

Lately, Astra’s been very quiet, and right now as they have their breakfast, Astra’s in deep thought which made Edward ask, “Is there something wrong sweetheart?”

Blinking her eyes, Astra sighed. She removed her amulet from her neck and placed it on Edward’s hand. “When the time has come, please give this to our daughter. In no less than a month she will be born and I don’t think I’ll be there when that time comes. If I have a daughter I’ve always wanted to name her after my mother, that’s why I want you to name her Amara.”

“Why are you saying this Astra? You are not going anywhere.”

“I need to stop as soon as possible and I know my daughter will become sorceress and when that happens, all my powers will pass on to her and I will die eventually.” Astra held Edwards hand giving it a tight squeeze.

“I’m sorry if I have to leave you Edward but I need to stop Raquel before it’s too late. Please take care of our daughter.”