Married To The Villain
Chapter 73: The Queen’s Gift

Chapter 73: The Queen’s Gift

Chapter 73: The Queen’s Gift

The air around the crystal moved, and the flash twisted into a glowing golden shape.

Elira, her body was formed entirely of butterflies.

Her presence gave a serene, commanding energy that made Kael and Pedro immediately bow their heads.

Lirian, however, looked frozen, her mouth slightly opened as she stared at the person before her.

"Elira..." Pedro whispered.

The queen’s eyes landed on Lirian, soft yet piercing, as though seeing straight into her soul.

She stepped forward, gracefully yet with purpose.

"Lirian," Elira spoke. "At last, we meet."

Lirian took an involuntary step back, her throat felt dry. "You... you’re Gabriel’s mother?"

"Yes," Elira replied with a gentle nod. "And I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time."

Kael exchanged a glance with Pedro, who looked unusually serious.

Neither dared interrupt as Elira continued.

"I have watched you struggle, Lirian," Elira said.

"Watched you fight, doubt, and question your place in this world. And I am here now because you deserve answers. Because my son... Gabriel... needs you."

Lirian blinked rapidly, everything was catching up to her.

"Needs me? He’s in prison, barely alive. How am I supposed to help him when I can’t even figure out why I’m here?"

Elira raised a hand, and one of the golden butterflies detached from her form, floated gently toward Lirian.

It landed on her shoulder, a soothing started warmth spreading through her body.

"Gabriel has lost himself," Elira said softly. "The pain, the betrayal, the weight of this world—it has crushed him. He no longer believes in love, in hope. But you, Lirian... you are different. You were chosen because you can restore what was broken."

"Chosen?" Lirian repeated.

"I didn’t ask to be chosen! I didn’t ask to be dragged into this mess. And Gabrie...How am I supposed to save someone who doesn’t even want to be saved?"

Elira stepped closer, she looked understanding.

"You misunderstand, Lirian. Gabriel’s anger is not with you. It is with himself. He sees you as a reflection of everything he has lost—and everything he wishes he could be. But his heart... his heart still yearns for light. And that is why I am giving you my gift."

"Gift?" Lirian asked, warily.

Elira raised her hand, her butterflies swirled into an orb of light.

"When I sacrificed myself and my daughter, I infused my mana into the butterflies you see before you. They were meant to shield Gabriel and protect him from harm. But that is not enough anymore. My whole power... my essence... must go to you."

"What?" Lirian stepped back, shaking her head.

"No. I don’t want your power. I don’t want any of this...what about my life? My past?"

Elira’s eyes softened.

"You have already left that life behind, Lirian. And whether you wish it or not, the mana within you is already changing. The power I gave you when you were a child—it was too strong for your mortal body. That is why, for so long, you struggled. Why others saw you as weak. My mana was suppressed, dormant, until the moment you would need it."

Lirian stared at her, her head started to spin.

"So... that’s why I was useless at the academy? Because you made me this way?"

"Yes," Elira admitted, though she sounded regretful.

"But it was necessary. If your power had awakened too soon, it would have destroyed you. Now, however, it has adapted to you. It grows stronger every day, and soon, you will wield it fully. But to do so, you must accept this final piece of me."

The orb of butterflies hovered closer to Lirian, its light pulsed gently.

"No," Lirian said firmly, backing away. "I don’t want it. I don’t want to be some... some savior. I don’t even know how to help Gabriel, let alone fight whatever Meylo is planning!"

Elira’s eyes darkened slightly.

"Meylo is no longer human. He has twisted his soul, transferring his essence from body to body like a snake shedding its skin. He will stop at nothing to consume the crystal’s power. And if he succeeds, there will be no world left to save."

Lirian clenched her fists.

"Then why not give your power to someone else? To Pedro, or Kael? Why me?"

"Because you have something they do not," Elira said, stepping closer.

"A connection to Gabriel. He needs you, Lirian. Not just as a warrior, but as someone who can reach him, heal him, and make him believe in love again."

Lirian’s breath caught. "Love? I... I can’t..."

"Yes, you can," Elira said gently.

"You already have. He may not show it, but Gabriel’s heart beats for you, Lirian. And it is that love that will save him—and this world."

Lirian felt tears forming in her eyes.

"And what about Raphael? He... he hates me. He probably won’t listen to me as well."

"Raphael’s hatred is not truly his own. He learned it from your father, who instilled in him a twisted obsession with power and control. Raphael believes that by breaking you, he can claim what he believes is his."

Lirian’s heart sank. "My father... he caused this?"

"Yes," Elira said. "But Raphael can be reached. He is still human, and there is still hope for him. To make him listen, you must appeal to the part of him that longs for connection. Show him that his pain does not need to define him."

"And if I can’t?" Lirian asked, whispering.

"You must," Elira said simply. "Because if Raphael falls to Meylo’s influence, he will become an even greater threat than his master."

Lirian’s shoulders slumped, the world pressed down on her like she was the only hero who could save everyone.

"This is too much. How am I supposed to save Gabriel, stop Raphael, and fight Meylo all at once?"

Elira stepped forward, placing her hands on Lirian’s shoulders.

The warmth of her touch spread through Lirian, calming her racing questions.

"You are stronger than you think, Lirian," Elira said softly. "And you are not alone. Pedro, Kael, and even Gabriel—they will stand with you. But first, you must accept this gift."

Lirian looked up at her, tears fell down her face. "What if I fail?"

Elira smiled, her eyes looked full of love and reassurance. "You won’t."

With that, the orb of butterflies descended, colliding with Lirian’s chest.

An energy coursed through her, overwhelming and exhilarating all at once.

"Wha-!"

She cried out, clutching at her heart as the golden light spread through her veins.

When it was over, she stood trembling, her body hummed with this new power.

Elira stepped back, her body started to fade.

"Save my son, Lirian," Elira said, as her voice was turning more faint.

"Save this world."

As Elira disappeared, Lirian fell to her knees, white pearls kept falling down her face.

Kael and Pedro rushed to her side.

"I don’t know if I can do this," Lirian whispered.

Kael placed a hand on her shoulder. "You can. We’re with you, every step of the way."

"Yeah, and if you mess up, we’ll just blame the glowing rock."

Lirian let out a shaky laugh.

She didn’t have all the answers, but she knew one thing: she couldn’t give up.

"Okay, I also have a confession to make," Kael stated.