Chapter 34: Exposed
"Before that, Your Majesty, may I ask why you approached me and even went to such a length as to tell me about the kingdom's secret artifact such as the Star Fragment?"
As usual, the Queen only smiled. A kind of smile that appeared sincere yet cunning, just like a fox.
If it were the game, where Niveus played as the royal heir, he wouldn't be so concerned about that smile since he knew that, while she seemed to want to harm the player's character, it was actually her way of expressing her interest and concern.
She tested the player's character while keeping a secret that she would not reveal unless they passed her test.
What is the secret? This depends on the character, route, and overall progression of the player.
For example, a player who pursued the 'SSS' will have the Queen telling them about the hidden piece to gain Godhood
'I just can't read her mind...'
The Queen raised her hand and with a gesture from her fingers, the two maids behind lowered their heads before leaving the Queen alone with the young knight.
"You're the strongest, youngest knight the kingdom has. You're the child who interests the Vanguard's Commander. More importantly, you're the most peculiar being I've ever seen. In short, you intrigued me, Celestial," the Queen finally said after she confirmed her maids were not around, and possibly were not in a distance where they could hear her.
Niveus tensed instantly after hearing her words, especially when she addressed him as Celestial, but managed to conceal it.
Nono and Karan were exceptions.
The former was basically an all-knowing entity that could name everyone in this world, though she could be wrong at times. And the latter was a human who could identify anyone through their souls.
The reason why Karan couldn't recognize Niveus at the beginning was probably the same reason Niveus and other people couldn't sense Karan's existence when he decided to conceal it.
Since Niveus was a half-Celestial, Karan could only identify Niveus's human shell that was devoid of divinity. When Niveus gathered and leaked a drop of divinity, Karan immediately recognized him.
As for how Karan instantly assumed Niveus a Celestial was because he was once a devoted believer. He could feel the difference between the divinity granted by the Celestial and those who belonged to them.
Other than those two, no one should be able to identify a Celestial or even those who were half-kind like Niveus.
'How does she know?' Niveus thought, trying to compose himself.
Momentarily, Niveus processed the Queen's words: She approached him because she thought he was strong despite being so young. Niveus didn't know what was the deal between the Queen and Starling, but he assumed they weren't on a good term based on how she bitterly muttered about Starling. By approaching him, her intention was probably to make him serve her to control Starling.
'As for the last part... let's act as if she's just jesting.'
"I understand. However, if your intention is to make me the Queen's personal unit, I shall ask another question. Why me? I'm sure there are senior knights better than me."
The corner of the Queen's lip raised slightly. She took the knight chess piece with her index and thumb, raising it to her eyes level.
"Interesting," she muttered low as she stared intently at the chess piece and turned at Niveus. "You didn't refute when I called you a Celestial, why is that?"
"What? Oh, sorry. I thought you were joking, Your Majesty."
"Why would I joke about a sacred topic? Do you know it's blasphemy to call a mortal a Celestial?" the Queen said as she placed the black-knight piece symmetrical to the white-bishop piece. "Do you know what it means when you say I was joking?"
Niveus's eyes fluttered rapidly. He had no idea that was a thing in this world. Though he knew it was a sin to call or claim oneself or other people a God (Celestial), he never knew it was a blasphemous action worthy of being shunned in this world.
That was not such a thing when it was still a game. Or maybe his game was not that deep in the first place.
Either way, Niveus had made a grave mistake.
With an almost instantaneous motion, Niveus got off the chair and kneeled while bending his body as low as possible, almost prostrating.
"I've made a grave mistake! Please have mercy, Your Majesty," Niveus pleaded while thinking what the fvck he was just doing.
Niveus didn't know the norm for how people of this kingdom asked for forgiveness from the Queen. Despite lacking that knowledge, he still did what he thought was a proper way to plead to the Ruler.
The Queen unfolded her fan and covered her mouth while she chuckled.
"Is that how you do it in Celestia?"
"Yes?" Niveus tried to tilt his head.
Sighing, the Queen clasped the fan in her palms.
"Never mind that, child. Come, sit up again."
The Queen examined Niveus as he got up to his feet and sat down across, staring at her nervously.
"First of all, I'm sorry for teasing you. It's not blasphemous at all to call people a Celestial or claim yourself as one, at least not in Aetheris. But you ought to be careful if one day you end up in Vyrmoria," the Queen said, taking the white-bishop piece out of the board. "Second of all, are all Celestials like you?"
"Your Majesty, I—"
"Lying won't get you anywhere."
Niveus sighed exasperatedly, his eyes shifting toward the chessboard.
"Fine, yes. I'm a Celestial. And no, not all of them are like me. And I don't think there is a Celestial that's like me. I'm a bit different"
He reached for the white-queen piece and examined it.
"If I may ask, how do you know I'm a Celestial? I mean, how did you figure it out? I don't think any mortals except those with high affinity like the Saintess can distinguish a Celestial who happens to enjoy their time in the middle realm. But you don't have any affinity, so you can't identify me."
"I have my own way that I don't want to disclose to anyone, yet," the Queen said. "Anyhow, enough about this Celestial topic."
The Queen flicked the black-knight piece before speaking, "Honestly, it's not that important whether you are a Celestial or a human. I approached you because I think you are the right person for the job. Your skill isn't that far from your sister, and you're still young, too."
Niveus nodded slightly, prompting the Queen to continue.
"I tell you about the Star Fragment because you already know it beforehand, isn't that right, little Niveus?"
"W-wha—" Niveus got flustered when the Queen added a 'little' before his name. "Li-little?"
Niveus felt weird being called that, but somehow he felt a familiarity with the way the Queen said it. He tried to remember that familiar feeling for a moment, shaking his head when he finally recalled it.
All his life, there was only one person who had called him by such a nickname and in a way that made him not uncomfortable.
'No way...'
Noticing the changing expression of Niveus from thoughtful to realization and disbelief, the Queen covered her mouth before she laughed.
"Have you finally realized it, little Niveus?"
With a powerful bang, Niveus slammed the table and stood up.
"Aunt Anetta?!"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Overseer_
Overseer_ Anetta who? Check chapter 1 now!
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone