33 - Terra

For a long time, Luna simply stared.

She had been expecting a scolding, perhaps a laugh, or even one of those “stern noble” speeches that made people like Baron Eldwin so difficult to predict. But she had not expected this.

The baron—lord of the estate, commander in war, a man with the weight of land and people on his shoulders—was kneeling on one knee before her. Cedric, his ever-dignified butler, looked as though someone had punched the breath out of him.

And then, as though it were the most natural thing in the world, Eldwin bowed his head.

“Lady Luna Terra,” he said, his voice deep with reverence, “daughter of Duchess Valerie Terra, granddaughter of William Terra, the Duke-emeritus  of the Empire and vice principal of Celestial Academy. Forgive my delay in recognizing you.”

Luna blinked. Once. Twice.

Wait. What?

Terra. The name fit the card William had given her, the name the world would see—but it wasn’t hers. I’m Luna Aqua, she thought, the truth of it pressing against the borrowed title like a stone in her shoe.

Hearing it aloud, spoken with such certainty, made the false name feel heavier, almost real. Was this who she was supposed to become? Or was she only pretending at someone else’s life?

Her jaw parted slightly, but no words emerged. It was as though her brain had decided to take a short vacation, leaving her mouth to fend for itself.

Cedric’s composure finally cracked. The butler—who, until now, had seemed carved out of unyielding marble—lowered himself to one knee as well, head bowed in deference.

“Lady Luna,” Cedric echoed, his voice smooth but heavy with formality, “please forgive this servant’s earlier casualness.”

Luna’s hands fidgeted in her lap. She looked down at the card she had shown them, the simple identification William Terra had given her, then back at the two grown men kneeling before her. Her mind spun with the names they had spoken.

Duchess Valerie Terra. The Duke-emeritus William Terra. Vice principal of Celestial Academy… My grandpa was a duke? My mom’s a duchess?

Her lips curled into a small, uncertain smile. It was all too much, like being dropped into the middle of a play without knowing the lines. She wanted to laugh, to protest, to tell them they were mistaken—but the emblem on her card left no room for denial.

And so, still dazed, she could only sit there, candy tucked in her cheek, staring into empty space with a vacant smile while her thoughts collided noisily inside her head.

Baron Eldwin’s gaze flicked upward, studying her silence. “My lady, you honor my hall with your presence. But forgive my boldness—may we rise?”

The words pulled Luna from her stupor. She blinked again, realizing suddenly that both men were still on their knees, heads bowed as though awaiting a queen’s decree.

“Oh! Uh, yes, yes, of course,” she said quickly, flustered. “You can stand. Please, stand!”

The command was enough. Both Eldwin and Cedric rose smoothly, though their postures remained straight-backed and formal, their eyes lowered with respect.

Eldwin did not return to his desk but instead seated himself on a couch, near Luna. Cedric assumed his place beside him, hands clasped neatly at his waist, every inch the perfect attendant once more.

Luna stared at them, her lips pursing. Something about the stiffness in the air made her chest tighten. She preferred the earlier atmosphere, where Eldwin had laughed, Cedric had sighed, and everything had felt warm and human.

“This is weird,” Luna muttered under her breath.

Eldwin’s brows lifted ever so slightly. “Weird, my lady?”

Luna leaned forward, her small hands braced against her knees. “Yes. All of this. The bowing, the titles, the ‘my lady’—it feels like you’ve both swallowed sticks and forgot how to smile.”

Cedric’s lips twitched, but he said nothing. Eldwin, however, inclined his head. “You are the daughter of Duchess Terra. Such respect is only natural. I am but a humble baron—how could I treat you casually?”

Luna frowned. “But I like casual.”

The baron gave a small chuckle, though his expression remained firm. “A preference I understand. Yet the gulf between our titles is not so easily ignored. It is the way of the nobility.”

“Ugh, nobility,” Luna groaned, puffing out her cheeks. “So stubborn. Sarah’s stubborn too, you know. I think you have to be related somehow.”

That earned her the faintest smile from Cedric, quickly hidden behind a composed expression. Eldwin, however, arched a brow.

“You are comparing me to Sarah?” he asked, amused.

“Yes,” Luna said brightly. “You’re both kind, but when you decide on something, you stick to it like glue. Even if it makes things difficult.”

Eldwin’s smile grew, though his tone remained even. “A fair observation. But I fear I must remain difficult in this matter. Titles are not so easily set aside.”

Luna leaned back, crossing her arms. Her gaze darted between the baron and his butler, weighing her options. She could pout. She could argue. Or… she could do something bolder.

A thought struck her then. A risky thought. She didn’t like it, not really—but looking at Eldwin’s steady eyes and stubborn demeanor, she knew it might be the only way.

Taking a deep breath, Luna straightened her posture. Her mischievous smile returned, sharper this time.

“Baron Eldwin,” she said, her voice light but clear, “I order you to treat me casually. Just like before.”

The room froze.

Eldwin blinked, his stern facade cracking with surprise. For a heartbeat, even Cedric’s composure wavered, his eyes flicking toward the little girl in disbelief.

“You… order me?” Eldwin repeated.

Luna nodded, her grin widening. “Yes. Isn’t that how this works? You said titles can’t be ignored, right? Then as the daughter of Duchess Terra, I’m using my title to give you an order, stop acting all stiff. Talk to me like you did earlier. Laugh like you did earlier. That’s what I want.”

For a moment, silence pressed heavy in the air. Then, slowly—very slowly—Eldwin’s lips curved into a smile.

“Well played, Lady Luna,” he said, inclining his head. “If that is your order, then I shall obey.”

Luna clapped her hands, delighted. “Good! Now you’re not so scary anymore.”

Her eyes darted to Cedric. “And you too! Just be normal. Please?”

The butler blinked at her, momentarily caught off guard. Then, to Luna’s astonishment, he let out a quiet chuckle, the first she had heard from him.

“As you command,” Cedric said with a faint smile. “If casual is what you wish, then casual you shall have.”

Satisfied, Luna sank back into the couch, swinging her legs cheerfully. The heavy formality in the air seemed to dissolve, replaced once more with warmth and familiarity.

“There,” she said proudly. “Much better.”

Eldwin shook his head with a soft laugh, still impressed by the child’s audacity. “You are unlike any noble I have ever met.”

“I’m not really a noble,” Luna admitted, scratching her cheek sheepishly. “At least… not in my head. I’m just me.”

Her words carried a quiet sincerity, one that drew a thoughtful look from Eldwin. He saw in her not arrogance, but an innocence that disarmed even the sharpest instincts.

But Luna wasn’t done yet. She had another curiosity pressing at the back of her mind, one she could no longer ignore now that her “family” had been dragged into the light.

“Hey,” she said suddenly, tilting her head. “Since you’re being all honest now, can you tell me what you know about them? About my family?”

Eldwin’s brows lifted slightly. “Your family?”

“Mm-hm.” Luna nodded eagerly. “About Duchess Valerie Terra. And… William Terra too. Grandpa.”

At that, Eldwin’s expression shifted. For the first time since their conversation began, hesitation flickered across his face.

His eyes narrowed in thought, his instincts warning him that this might be a test. After all, nobles were always cautious about what they revealed to children of powerful houses.

Beside him, Cedric must have reached the same conclusion, for the butler gave a subtle incline of his head, as though silently asking, Shall we?

Eldwin exhaled softly. “This may take some time,” he said at last, his tone resigned. “Cedric, see to refreshments. Something light—for it seems the night will be long.”

Cedric bowed and moved to the sideboard with smooth precision. He poured fresh tea for Eldwin, then turned to Luna. “What would you like, Lady Luna?”

“Juice,” Luna answered instantly, “and cookies!”

For the first time that evening, both men allowed themselves unguarded smiles. Cedric nodded, already arranging the requested treats with deft movements.

Eldwin leaned back against the couch, his gaze steady on the small girl before him.

“Very well,” he said. “If you wish to hear of Duchess Valerie Terra… then let us begin.”

Luna’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, curiosity brimming like a cup filled to the edge. She hugged her knees to her chest, ready to listen.

And as Cedric returned with a tray of steaming tea, crisp cookies, and a crystal glass of chilled juice, the midnight conversation turned toward legend.

The fire in Baron Eldwin’s office burned low, its glow painting the walls in hues of bronze and gold.

Cedric placed the tray between them, setting down Eldwin’s steaming cup of tea before offering Luna her glass of juice and a plate stacked with cookies, the kind she liked best—crisp on the outside, soft at the heart.

“Thank you!” Luna chirped, her earlier daze all but gone in the face of sweets. She cradled the glass in both hands, sipping with exaggerated satisfaction, then seized a cookie with a bright grin.

Eldwin leaned back, his fingers curled around his cup. His eyes—grey touched with steel—lingered on her. He had faced countless adversaries in his years as both warrior and lord, but there was something uniquely daunting about the girl before him.

Not for her power, though his instincts whispered of it, but for her heart. It was disarming, how she asked her questions without guile, how she wielded authority without realizing its weight.

“Where to begin…” Eldwin murmured, his gaze dropping into the dark tea.

“From the start!” Luna said immediately, mouth full of crumbs. “Tell me everything.”

Cedric, standing beside his lord with quiet patience, allowed himself the faintest smile. “Lady Luna prefers thoroughness, it seems.”

“Of course I do,” Luna said, crumbs dusting her cloak. “How else am I supposed to understand if you only give me little pieces?”

Eldwin chuckled low. “Very well. Let us begin with your mother—Duchess Valerie Terra.”

Luna’s chewing slowed. Even hearing the name aloud sent a ripple of something strange through her. She had never met Valerie. Never even seen her face. Yet the title, the weight of it, pressed against her like the first roll of thunder before a storm.

Eldwin’s eyes warmed, far away now in memory. “Duchess Valerie Terra was not only noble by blood but extraordinary by spirit. When she was young, she enrolled in the Dragon Slayer Knight Academy—the most prestigious academy in the Empire. It is no exaggeration to say that every noble family dreamed of seeing their heirs pass through its gates. Only the best were admitted, and fewer still endured to graduation.”

He paused, sipping his tea. Luna’s eyes widened.

“Dragon Slayer?” she repeated. “That sounds scary. Did they… actually slay dragons?”

Cedric answered with a faint cough, his voice smooth as silk. “The name is symbolic, Lady Luna. The academy was founded during an age when dragon incursions still plagued the empire. Its knights were said to be the shield that stood between humanity and ruin. The title endured long after the dragons waned.”

“Oh,” Luna said softly, slightly disappointed. “Still, it sounds cool.”

Eldwin’s lips quirked. “Duchess Valerie Terra did more than simply pass through its gates. She conquered them. She graduated early, a feat unheard of in centuries, and not merely graduated, but left the academy as a Level 5 knight. She was twenty-one.”

Luna blinked. “Level… five? At twenty-one?”

“Most students leave at Level 4, if they manage it at all,” Eldwin said. “Many nobles boast for generations if one of their blood achieves Level 5 by their late-twenties. But Valerie Terra… she was a genius unlike any other. A once-in-a-century talent.”

Luna’s hands tightened around her glass. A tiny thrill bubbled in her chest, pride she didn’t quite know how to hold. “That’s my mom…” she whispered, a smile tugging her lips.

Eldwin nodded. “Indeed. William Terra—your grandfather—was Duke of the Empire then, the shield of the Empire. When Valerie graduated, he did something no one expected. He handed the duchy to her.”

Luna’s head snapped up. “Wait. Just like that?”

“Just like that,” Cedric affirmed. “He relinquished his position, passing the title to his only daughter. Many nobles mocked the decision. They said she was too young, too untested, too reckless.”

“And?” Luna leaned forward, eyes wide.

Eldwin’s smile was slow, proud. “And she proved them all wrong. Not only did she manage the duchy with a wisdom beyond her years, she also applied to become an imperial knight.”

Luna nearly choked on her juice. “But… she just got a title! Isn’t that… too much?”

“Many thought so,” Eldwin said, his voice laced with amusement. “But Valerie Terra was not content to remain behind walls. She wanted to serve her people both as ruler and as shield. Against all odds, the Imperial Knights accepted her. And once more, she proved them right to do so. In a few short years, she ascended to Level 7.”

Luna’s jaw dropped. “Seven?!”

Cedric allowed himself a rare chuckle at her expression. “Indeed. Her name became one spoken with both reverence and awe. The common folk adored her. Nobles who once scoffed found themselves silenced. She became one of the most respected figures in the Empire.”

Luna’s chest swelled. She couldn’t help it. Pride gleamed in her eyes as she whispered again, softer this time, “That’s my mom…”

Eldwin’s gaze softened at the sight. “She is remarkable, Lady Luna. To this day, tales of her deeds are told in the Empire’s courts and taverns alike. But,” he added, “hers is not the only legend you carry.”

Luna tilted her head, a crumb clinging to her cheek. “You mean Grandpa?”

“Yes,” Eldwin said, his tone deepening with respect. “William Terra. The Duke-emeritus of the Empire. Earth Mage of unparalleled strength. The strongest Level 8 in this continent.”

The fire crackled as silence fell, heavy with the weight of the name. Even Cedric’s usually unreadable eyes seemed to glimmer faintly.

Luna hugged her knees tighter, leaning forward as though his words might escape if she didn’t. “Tell me.”

And so Eldwin did.

He told her of William Terra’s rise, of how he had defended the northern borders when he was scarcely older than Darren. Of how he had stood alone against entire battalions of demon worshippers, his earth magic reshaping the land itself to shield his people.

“Walls rose at his command,” Eldwin said, his voice low with awe. “Mountains shifted, rivers changed course. They called him the Living Bastion. Armies broke upon him like waves upon stone.”

Luna’s eyes grew impossibly wide. “Grandpa… moved mountains?”

“Not mountains entire,” Cedric corrected gently, “but enough that it seemed so to those who witnessed it. His strength was… beyond imagining.”

Eldwin nodded. “He was more than strength, though. He was wisdom. A leader who inspired loyalty without demanding it. Soldiers followed him not because he was duke, but because he was William Terra.”

Luna’s small hands clenched. “He sounds amazing…”

“He was,” Eldwin agreed quietly. “Still is. Though he stepped back from his ducal duties to serve as vice principal of Celestial Academy, his influence has never waned. He is… the pillar upon which many hopes still rest.”

For a while, the only sound was the crackle of fire, the clink of Luna nibbling cookies. She sat very still, her heart a whirl of emotions. Pride, wonder, and something warmer—gratitude.

She thought of the old man who had given her candy, who had ruffled her hair with hands calloused by battles she had never seen. Grandpa William. The same man who once smiled at her like she was his treasure.

“…I’m really lucky, huh?” she murmured.

Eldwin and Cedric shared a glance. Neither spoke, but the answer was plain in their eyes.

Luna bit her lip, a smile tugging at her mouth. “I’ll buy him souvenirs,” she declared suddenly. “And Mama too. When I see them, I’ll bring something nice. Definitely.”

Her words were so earnest, so uncalculated, that both men felt a pang of warmth. Eldwin chuckled softly, setting down his empty cup. “I suspect they would treasure anything from you, Lady Luna. Even the smallest trinket.”

The girl beamed, cheeks glowing with pride.

The hours bled together as Eldwin continued his stories—tales of Valerie’s campaigns, of William’s battles, of victories won through sacrifice and stubborn defiance. Luna listened with rapt attention, her questions spilling endlessly,

“Did Mama really fight ten men at once?”

“Grandpa taught as a professor at the Dragon Slayer Knight Academy before becoming vice principal at Celestial Academy? What did he teach?”

“Did Mama and Grandpa ever fight each other? Who won?”

Her enthusiasm filled the room, each innocent query pulling smiles from the baron and chuckles from Cedric. It was impossible not to be swept into her wonder.

And then, sometime past dawn, the little girl’s energy faltered.

Her glass of juice sat half-finished, her cookie crumbled untouched. Her eyes drooped, head nodding despite her attempts to fight it.

“Not… sleepy…” she mumbled, even as her body betrayed her, slumping against the cushions.

Eldwin rose quietly, lifting a blanket from the armrest. With a gentleness that surprised even himself, he draped it over her small frame.

Luna murmured something unintelligible in her sleep, curling like a cat beneath the fabric. A faint smile lingered on her lips.

Eldwin stood for a moment, watching her. For all her boldness, for all her mischief, she was still just a child he thought. A child who carried names heavy enough to bend kingdoms and empire alike, yet slept as innocently as any other.

Cedric approached, his voice low. “To think such innocence belongs to the daughter of Duchess Valerie Terra.”

Eldwin’s lips curved faintly. “And the granddaughter of The Duke-emeritus William Terra. The blood of legends.”

But when he looked down again at her small, peaceful face, he shook his head. “No… for now, she is simply Luna.”

Cedric inclined his head, the shadow of a smile touching his mouth.

Together, the two men left the office, closing the door softly behind them. The fire dwindled, the morning sun beginning to seep through the curtains.

And on the couch, wrapped in warmth, Luna slept soundly, her dreams filled with the stories of a duchess mother and a duke grandfather.

She did not know that by the time she woke, the news of her lineage—the truth of her name—would already be spreading across Baron Eldwin’s barony like wildfire.